Inspection Detail

Inspection: 311868020 - Pacific International Rice Mills, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On February 12, 2009, an employee, a lead person in the packaging department was cleaning the floor area by packaging Line 2. The area consisted of a chain conveyor after a palletizer that led to a chain conveyor turntable that fed a stretch wrap line. As the employee was cleaning the area, a bale of packaged rice fell from a pallet that had left the palletizer, headed to the turntable. The employee reached for the bale with the intent to remove it, when his right hand made contact with operational equipment, most likely the turntable. The employee could not recall exactly where his hand was or the exact piece of equipment it came into contact with. The employer found human flesh in one area of the turntable. The employee was treated on-site by Woodland Fire Department personnel and transported to UC Davis Medical Center. The employee was then transferred to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The employee sustained massive trauma to the hand including the amputation of the pinkie finger, skin and muscle grafts. He was released from the hospital on February 24, 2009.

Keywords: CHAIN, FINGER, MACHINE OPERATOR, CAUGHT BY, CONVEYOR, FALLING OBJECT, HAND, CONTUSION