Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310412952 - Bogle Vineyards, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On May 25, 2007, a vineyard employee was in a vineyard spraying the vines with sulfur via a tractor mounted, PTO driven sprayer. Soon after he starting the spraying, he observed smoke coming from the sprayer and a reduction in its output. He stopped the tractor and exited the unit without disengaging the PTO. He looked at the sprayer and noted how a belt and pulley drive associated with the sprayer's blower was smoking and not turning very fast. He found a stick in the vineyard and using both hands, pressed the stick onto the belt and applied pressure. The stick flew out of his hands, and his right hand made contact with the larger of the two pulleys. Four of his fingers contacted the pulley but the tip of his thumb was amputated. The emergency personnel from the area arrived and arranged transportation to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. In addition to the amputation, his second finger was fractured that required surgery to insert two pins. He was released from the hospital on May 26.

Keywords: FRACTURE, AMPUTATED, BELT, AGRICULTURE, THUMB, CAUGHT BETWEEN