Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305353799 - Disney Ice

Inspection Information - Office: Santa Ana District Office

Investigation Summary

On April 20, 2004, Employee #1, whose employer is engaged in the operation of an ice skating rink for the general public and for the professional sports teams, was operating an ice resurfacing machine, Model Number 552, Serial Number 5387, manufactured by Zamboni Company. This machine functions like a street sweeper, picks up loose ice and collects it into an attached dumpster. This machine also has the capability of sprinkling water as part of the surface smoothing process. A horizontally rotating auger picks up the excess ice from the skating surface and pushes it up through a vertically rotating auger, which in turn pushes the ice into the dumpster. There is an approximately 8 in. by 6 in. exit window to transfer ice from the vertical auger into the dumpster, which frequently gets jammed due to the ice buildup. When the dumpster is in the normal collecting position, this exit window is properly covered by the dumpster body. When the dumpster is tilted up in the disposal position, this 8 in. by 6 in. window exposes the vertical auger, which is about 8 in. from the lip of this window. After dumping the ice in the drainage area, the operator is required to clean the ice buildup on this window. This is normally done after stopping the augers and by pouring water on the ice with a hose. Employee #1 was removing this ice buildup. He switched the augers off and proceeded to pull the ice out by reaching into this 8 in. by 6 in. window with his right hand. By doing so, his right hand came in contact with the auger, which was still rotating. Employee #1's right thumb and right index finger were crushed. Surgery was required to repair the damage and metal pins were installed in his right index finger. He was hospitalized for two days.

Keywords: FRACTURE, FINGER, WORK RULES, CLEANING, CAUGHT BY, LOCKOUT, AUGER, UNGUARDED