Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307184309 - Nellson Nutraceutical

Inspection Information - Office: Monrovia District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:23 p.m. on March 28, 2007, an employee was working in one of the mixing rooms where they use a pump to empty a drum of caramel into tubs. The drums are lined with plastic. The employee was emptying a barrel of caramel into plastic tubs. The employee stated that there was a rubber part that got stuck in the piston and someone had turned on the machine when he was trying to get it unstuck and as a result part of his glove was missing because his finger was cut. The employee was not hospitalized. In an interview Coworker #1 stated that the plastic was caught below the pump. He stated that he turned it on very slowly and told the employee not to put his hand in there. He stated that when he turned it on the employee wanted to pull the plastic out. Coworker #1 statement was contrary to Coworker #2's statement. Coworker #3 stated that Coworker #1 turned on the machine and that's when the injury occurred. When asked if Coworker #1 told the employee not to put his hand there, he said "no" and Coworker #1 was the one who instructed the employee to put his hand there. The employee and Coworker #2 stated that they were not trained on what to do if the plastic got caught in the pump. Coworker #1 stated that "You just have to be careful. They told us if the machine is on not to put our hands in there." In reviewing the training records, Coworker #1's name appear on the "Graco Pump Operating Procedure" dated February 11, 2005, but the employee and Coworker #2's name were not listed.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, FINGER, STUCK, MACHINE OPERATOR, JAMMED, LOCKOUT, CAUGHT BETWEEN