Inspection Detail

Inspection: 304692544 - The P T O'Malley Lumber Company, Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

An employee working as a machine operator for West Plains Resaw Systems Packace Deck, Un-scrambler and Deck Dealer received training on February 25, 2002, from the head maintenance man who was the other operator. As the lumber travels on the conveyor, each piece is fed through the skate rollers and cut to the required size. The pieces of the lumber ride up and over two 9 inch in diameter sprocket wheels that have approximately 30.5-inch-high teeth. There is a horizontal shaft that connects the two 22.38-inch-long sproket wheels. The machine operator monitors the lumber as it travels on the conveyor and into the saw. On March 8, 2002, the employee started working at the conveyor-saw machines. He had to cut and stack as many boards as he can during his shift. The company has a caution sign at the conveyor and the saw. The employee was wearing loose clothing, gloves and a pair of safety glasses. He approached the revolving sprocket wheels and the horizontal shaft, his gloves and his clothes got caught on the outside sprocket wheel and the shaft. He tried to pull himself free but could not and as his clothes wrapped tighter around the sprocket wheel and the horizontal shaft he was pulled towards the sprocket wheels and the horizontal shaft. The employee was "flipped" through the small open area between the shaft and other permanent non-moving bars on the conveyor at least twice. The emergency rescue response team and the police were called. The employee sustained a left arm nearly amputated, crushed ribs, massive chest injuries and a broken leg. He died of his injuries.

Keywords: MAINTENANCE, CAUGHT BY, SAW, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED, LUMBER, SHAFT, CONVEYOR