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Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301485090 - Ethan Allen, Inc - Orleans Division

Inspection Information - Office: Vt Department Of Labor - Vosha

 

Inspection Nr: 301485090
Report ID: 0155010
Date Opened: 09/13/1996

Site Address:
Ethan Allen, Inc - Orleans Division
Railroad Avenue
Orleans, VT 05860

Mailing Address:
Railroad Avenue, Orleans, VT 05860

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2511

NAICS: 0 


Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 11/01/1996

Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 05/02/2000


Related Activity
Type Activity Nr Safety Health
Accident 102060555
Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 2 2
Current Violations 2 2
Initial Penalty $3,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $3,000
Current Penalty $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
FTA Penalty $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Violation Items
# Citation ID Citaton Type Standard Cited Issuance Date Abatement Due Date Current Penalty Initial Penalty FTA Penalty Contest Latest Event Note
1. 01001 Serious 19100213 R04 12/16/1996 12/20/1996 $0 $1,500 $0 01/03/1997 D - Govt Dismissed  
2. 01002 Serious 19100213 R04 12/16/1996 12/20/1996 $0 $1,500 $0 01/03/1997 D - Govt Dismissed  

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 202043550
Event: 09/09/1996
Employee's hand amputated in finish mill

At approximately 11:45 a.m. on September 9, 1996, Employee #1, the tail end operator (off loader) of a Greenlee #535 double-end Tenoner, was preparing to shut it down for lunch. After the last piece of lumber was run through, he shut it off at the back, walked around to the front, and put his right hand on the machine to kick out scrap that had accumulated on the hall side to his coworker. He was pivoting as he kicked and did not feel the track moving until the feed chain had forced his hand into the pressure beam. Employee #1 slapped at the switch connected to the no-go bar at the front of the pressure beam and then called out when he could not free his hand and the feed chain did not stop. The trim saw had cut through his hand about two-thirds of the way when he yanked his arm free, without the hand. Two coworkers took Employee #1 to the hospital and the nurse transported his hand, but doctors' efforts to reattach it failed. The machine operator stated that after placing the last piece of lumber on the feed chains, he turned and bent over to pick up scrap and did not turn around until he heard Employee #1 shout. When he realized what was happening, he tried to shut off the machine by hitting the kill switch adjacent to the feed chain front sprocket. He then started to crank up the pressure beam to free Employee #1's arm. At the time of the incident, the lumber being cut was 3/4 in. thick, but the no-go bar safety switch assembly at the front of the pressure beam hold-back shoe was adjusted to approximately 3 3/4 in. above the track. The feed chain was traveling 28 ft per minute. When a kill switch was activated in a no load test, the feed chain brake engaged and stopped the feed chain after 30 1/2 in. of travel. The no-go bar was 17 in. from the periphery of the 14 in. trim saw blade. Employee #1's hand traveled approximately 78 in. in the back of the pressure beam. The front end operator stated that the Plexiglas guards in front of the pressure beams were in place that morning. Neither he nor Employee #1 recalled moving the guard out of place during cleanup.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, START BUTTON, STOP SWITCH, WORK RULES, CAUGHT BY, MILLWRIGHT, NIP POINT, HAND, UNGUARDED

Investigated Inspection
# Inspection Age Sex Degree of Injury Nature of Injury Occupation
1 301485090 Hospitalized injury Amputation Miscellaneous woodworking machine operators
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