Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307169342 - Poly Pak America Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On July 28, 2006, Employee #1, a resin material handler, was working in the resin formulation section, approximately 10 ft from an extrusion line printer. Employee #1 and Coworker #1 were near the printer when Coworker #2 walked into the printing area and said that the plastic bags were coming out dirty and asked if someone could take care of the problem. Employee #1 stated that he was not the pressman, but since he had seen the pressman clean the rollers before, he thought he could help out. When Coworker #2 realized that Employee #1 was not the pressman, he told Employee #1 to wait and went to look for the pressman on duty. But, Employee #1 proceeded to see if he could determine what the problem was. Employee #1 noticed a spot on one of the rollers and used a hand-held rag to clean it. The rag got caught by the in-running rollers, pulling Employee #1's right hand into the pinch point of the in-running rollers. Employee #1 was able to pull out his fingers immediately. Employee #1 was driven to a medical clinic and treated for a crush injury to the right ring finger and amputation of the tip of the right middle finger. He was released later the same day.

Keywords: PRINTING PRESS, AMPUTATED, FINGER, WORK RULES, LOCKOUT, ROLLER--MACH/PART, CAUGHT BETWEEN, CRUSHED