Accident: 119947893 - Leg Injured In Same-Level Fall

At approximately 8:25 a.m. on August 25, 2000, Employee #1, an aircraft mechanic, was working in Hangar #3. He slipped on an oil spill while working on the concrete floor and sustained a spiral fracture of his lower right leg. Employee #1 was transported by paramedics to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for three days.

mechanic, chemical, fracture, leg, slip, fall, housekeeping, slippery surface, spill

Accident: 120331954 - Finger Amputated In Ribbon Mixer

On July 13, 2000, Employee #1, of Senor Felix Gourmet Mexican Food, Inc., was using a horizontal mixer to make salsa. There was no visible model or serial number on the mixer unit itself; however, according to the quality assurance manager the make was Reitz S.S. ribbon blender, model #RS 24-20, serial #10162. Employee #1 was standing in front of the discharge gate. After emptying the salsa from the mixer into the bin, he was reaching with his left hand to press the STOP button of the mixer when he slipped. As he slipped, his right hand entered the discharge gate, amputating his thumb and index finger. The plant manager took him first to Foothill Medical Center, then to Intercommunity Hospital, and finally to the Western Hand Center. According to Employee #1 and coworkers, the front guard on the discharge gate was not in place at the time of the accident. During a visit by OSHA on July 17, 2000, the floor of the salsa mixing area was wet. The physical, environmental, and human factors that contributed to this accident were (1) failure to have in place the guard for the discharge gates; (2) the presence of wet, slippery floors; and (3) failure to identify during the quarterly inspection that the guard was missing. At the time of the accident, Employee #1 had been working as a food preparer for the employer for four months.

mixer, rotating knife, finger, slip, slippery surface, housekeeping, amputated, work rules, unguarded, struck against

Accident: 126081199 - Injured In Fall On Wet Linoleum Floor

Employee #1 was using the washing machine in the washroom, which had water on the floor. She was moving toward the hallway and had walked three steps to the door when she slipped on the linoleum floor and fell. She briefly lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital, where she spent three days for observation. Employee #1 was diagnosed with depression and brachial neuritis/radiculitis (pain and weakness in the upper body), but she did not receive any treatment or medication while in the hospital.

slip, fall, slippery surface, water, unconsciousness, work surface, walking surface, housekeeping, work rules, psych illness

Accident: 170572754 - Fingers Amputated In Hydraulic Press

Employee #1 was operating a hydraulic press with a sleeve die when an O-ring broke hydraulic fluid sprayed out. Maintenance stated that it would take over an hour before they could repair it. Employee #1 decided to switch sides of the press, which was in his authority as press operator, so that work could resume. Employee #1 had his hand in the sleeve die hole and a coworker was doing the punching when Employee #1 slipped on the hydraulic fluid and struck the pedal. This activated the sleeve die, which came down and amputated three fingers on his right hand. The equipment was not locked out, and Employee #1 had not cleaned up the hydraulic fluid.

hydraulic press, amputated, finger, foot control, housekeeping, maintenance, lockout, hydraulic fluid, slippery surface, work rules

Accident: 170360440 - Finger Injured In Rice Cleaning Machine

On October 2, 1999, Employee #1, the general manager for a company that dries and stores rice, opened the guard to check the feed rolls and vacuum system on a rice cleaning machine. He was holding up the hinged inspection door with his left hand when his foot banged into a fire extinguisher on the floor. As he turned his body to look at the fire extinguisher, his right hand inadvertently became caught in the nip point of the rotating rice feed rolls. Employee #1 jerked his hand out , amputating his middle finger at the large knuckle and degloving his index and fourth fingers.

nip point, finger, agriculture, housekeeping, roller--mach/part, rotating parts, amputated, skin, work rules, maintenance

Accident: 120126362 - Burned In Flash Fire In Welding Shop

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on August 30, 1999, Employee #1, a welder, was working in the welding and fabrication shop. He placed his tig welding stinger on the steel welding table in close proximity to a spray can of rust inhibitor paint. The hot welding wire struck the surface of the paint can, resulting in a flash fire. Employee #1 sustained burns to his face and to both arms. He was transported by helicopter to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for treatment.

welder, burn, face, struck against, welding electrode, fire, housekeeping, paint, flammable liquid, work rules

Accident: 119958049 - Injured In Same-Level Fall

At approximately 4:20 a.m. on July 18, 1999, Employee #1 was walking from machine #20, her assigned work station, to machine #18, when she slipped on white polystyrene beads that had spilled on the floor. She fell, striking her right ankle against the machine, and striking her back and head on the concrete floor. Employee #1 was hospitalized for two days.

slip, fall, slippery surface, housekeeping, ankle, struck against, walking surface, head, spill, work rules