Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300844784 - Sanderson Headers

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10 a.m. on April 26, 2006, Employee #1, who had worked for Sanderson Headers for two weeks, was operating a pipe bender machine, a Horn Machine Tools Number 1.5 CNC Rotary Hydraulic Pipe Bending Machine, which bends tubular steel for use as automotive headers. Employee #1 was using a foot-actuated control device to initiate the bending sequences, and was seated on a stool, off of the safety mat. The safety mat was installed to prohibit the machine from operating when a person stood on it. The position of the mat was approximately 4 inches away from the machine, at the side where the production operator was working. This operating position allowed Employee #1 to feed stock into the machine and retrieve it after the bends were completed without engaging the safety mat to stop the machine. He placed a piece of steel material to be bent into the mandrel section and thought that it was not positioned properly. Employee #1, who had only operated the machine three of four times prior, was unsure of the machine sequences. He believed that the machine was in a pause mode. He then reached in with his left hand to adjust the piece, when the pressure die assist section clamped down and crushed the index, middle and ring fingers of his hand. He was taken to the hospital, where surgery was required to reconstruct the nearly amputated fingers.

Keywords: FRACTURE, STEEL TUBE, FINGER, MACHINE OPERATOR, CAUGHT BY, LOCKOUT, BENDING MACHINE, MANUAL MAT HANDLING, UNTRAINED, UNGUARDED