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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 305352023 - B Braun Company
Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office
Site Address:
B Braun Company
2525 Mcgaw Ave
Irvine, CA 92623
Mailing Address:
P.O Box 19791, Irvine, CA 92623
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2834
NAICS: 325412/Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 01/12/2004
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 10/15/2004
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 362366809 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $18,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,000 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $450 | $0 | $450 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 3999 B | 01/09/2004 | 01/27/2004 | $450 | $18,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On August 31, 2003, an employee was assigned the task of operating and observing the tester unit. The employer was engaged in the manufacturing of plastic bottles and filling them with fluids used in the medical applications. The employee was working on manufacturing line number 1, pressure tester unit number 2. This line filled and tested 1 or 2 liter plastic bottles containing irrigation solution used in the treatment of patients in the hospitals. After the bottles were filled with fluids and were automatically capped, they moved along a conveyor system and passed through a pressure tester unit, which applied pressure to the bottles to check for any leaks. This tester unit consisted of an additional section of conveyor mechanism, made of sprockets and chains with plastic slats, which pushed the bottles down while moving them forward as well. While the bottles were being applied pressure, they moved along the conveyor belt slowly. This approximately 5-ft long tester unit was enclosed with an interlocked Plexiglas cover. The entire conveyor system stops if this hinged cover was opened. The operator sat in front of the tester unit and watched the bottles for any leaks and made sure the bottles were moving smoothly through the conveyor. Sometimes the bottles going through this tester unit became misaligned, in which case the operator was required to open the interlocked cover and adjust the bottles while the operation was stopped and then restart the operation after closing the interlocked cover. This Plexiglas enclosure left openings measuring 5-in. by 4-in. on both sides of the conveyor and tester unit. The nip points created by the sprockets and chains were measured about 6-in. from each of the two 5-in. by 4-in. openings. At the time of the accident, Employee #1 noticed a misaligned bottle in the tester unit. Instead of stopping the unit by lifting the Plexiglas cover, she reached into the unit through the 5-in by 4-in. opening on the right hand side and tried to align the bottle with her right hand. In doing so, she got her right ring finger caught in the nip point of the chain and sprocket of the conveyor and tester unit. Employee #1 amputated her right ring fingertip up to the bottom of the nail, which included bone loss. She was hospitalized and treated for amputation.
Keywords: CHAIN, AMPUTATED, FINGER, SPROCKET, NIP POINT
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 305352023 | Hospitalized injury | Amputation | Machine operators, not specified |