Inspection Detail

Inspection: 311068894 - Help Staffing, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:50 a.m. on December 12, 2007, Employee #1, who was employed by Help Staffing, Inc. and providing labor at Macro Plastics, Inc. in Fairfield, CA, was working with the Model Number 1200 Italtech Injection Molding Machine. The machine molded the plastic feet that are part of injection-molded plastic storage bins used for harvesting, shipping, and storing fruits, vegetables and other commodities. Employee #1 was moving newly fabricated bin parts off the assembly line, when a bin foot got caught and was dangling in the danger zone of the injection molding machine. As Employee #1 was attempting to free up the dangling bin foot, his left hand was caught between the ejector plate doors. Employee #1's left hand pinky finger was crushed, and the bone was destroyed from the knuckle to the fingertip. His left ring finger was smashed and required installation of a metal plate up to the second knuckle. The tip of his left middle finger was also crushed. After the accident, Employee #1 was sent to NorthBay Medical Center/Vaca Valley Hospital in Vacaville, CA and then referred to Mercy Hospital of Folsom in Folsom, CA. The injuries left Employee #1 permanently disabled and unable to close his left hand. Help Staffing, Inc. reported the injury to DOSH Concord on December 12, 2007 at approximately 3:30 p.m. As part of their investigation, DOSH obtained statements from Employee #1, a second employee, the shift super, and a forklift operator. DOSH concluded that the injury resulted in part from failure to guard the ejector plate door openings, to prevent employees from reaching into the danger zone and become caught in the pinch point. The following citations were issued to Macro Plastics, Inc., in accordance with Title 8 California Code of Regulations: (A) T8CCR 2303(a)(4) Medium Severity General for lack of procedures to identify and evaluate work place hazards; (B) T8CCR 3314(g) High Severity General for lack of a hazardous energy control procedure, (C) T8CCR 3999(f) High Severity General for not preventing employees from riding or walking on a moving power driven chain, belt, or bucket, and (D) T8CCR 4600(a) Serious (High Likelihood) for lack of a sliding gate guard to provide a barrier between the dies/danger zones and the operator, or T8CCR 4184(a) for lack of guarding at the point of operation. After Employee #1 was injured, the employer added Plexiglas covers over the ejector plate doors.

Keywords: FRACTURE, FINGER, MOLDING MACHINE, WORK RULES, LOCKOUT, CAUGHT BETWEEN, POINT OF OPERATION, UNGUARDED