Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126087964 - Troy - Csl Lighting Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 6:30 a.m. on June 21, 2003, Employee #1 was working alone cutting a sheet of acrylic plastic on a table saw. Although Employee #1 had worked for this employer for 12 years he had only performed this job once before. The sheet of plastic was about 50 in. long and 9 in. wide and was to be cut in 9-in. squares. The manufacture places a thin blue film on top of the acrylic to protect the sheet from scratches. Employee #1 said that when he first did this job about 2 weeks prior to the incident a coworker demonstrated how to cut the plastic by placing his hands on either side of the saw blade and pushing the material through the saw. Employee #1 said he was using the 10-in. craftsman table saw Model Number 113298051 Serial Number 5049m034, to cut the sheet of plastic when the saw caught the blue film material pulling it and Employee #1's left hand into the saw blade. The table saw involved in the incident did not have a hood guard. A coworker said that while showing Employee #1 how to cut the plastic he (the coworker) demonstrated how to use blocks of wood as push sticks. Employee #1 said push sticks were never mentioned. Another coworker said that when the sheets are that long (50 in.) employees use their hands not push sticks to push the material through the saw. Employee #1 suffered the total amputation of his left index finger and severe laceration with nerve and tendon damage to the left thumb. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital for treatment but was not hospitalized.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, THUMB, SAW, BLADE, UNGUARDED, TABLE SAW