Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300782109 - Lennox Hearth Products

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 2:20 p.m. on June 2, 2003, a welder was retrieving the cord to roll-forming Machine Number 31. The roll forming machine had a foot resting on the cord to the foot control. The welder called an employee who was a packer to help her pull out the cord to the foot control. The employee and the welder pulled the roll-forming machine backwards. Wile the welder was lifting the roll-forming machine from one side, opposite to the spot welder, the employee bent under the frame of the roll-forming machine. As the employee bent over with the left knee resting on the floor, he grabbed the frame of the roll-forming machine with his right hand and using his left hand he attempted to retrieve the cord. As the employee grabbed the cord to the foot control, he suddenly felt the shock, he tried to release it but his muscles were contracted and could not let it go. The employee collapsed. The welder thought that she was crushing the employee's right hand with the frame, footing, of the roll-forming machine; she pulled it away and then released it. The frame of the machine fell on welder's left foot. The welder rushed to the the employee and with the help of another coworker, pulled him away and walked him away from the accident site. The company tagged out the roll forming and the spot welding equipment since company officials did not know where the problem had originated. The company brought a loss control agent from the insurance company to check the equipment. The investigation revealed that the spot welder was not properly grounded and because a loose part that was intermittently hitting a 480-volt source, the metal casing was energized with 480-volts to ground. The welder sustained bruised left foot. The employee received burn marks on right little and ring fingers, left index, middle, and ring fingers and between thumb and index fingers, left knee, left shoulder, and left side of forehead. After the accident the employee was transported to Stacy Medical Clinic by the Department Supervisor and then transferred to Community Hospital of Huntington Park via ambulance, where he was treated and released a week later. The casual factor leading to the accident was the fact that the spot welder involved in the accident was not properly grounded and because a loose part that was intermittently hitting a 480-volt source, the metal casing was energized with 480-volts to ground.

Keywords: BURN, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRIC SHOCK, FALLING OBJECT, FOOT