An incident occurred resulting in a worker's hand being amputated in a machine
called a "pallet notcher" that cuts notches in 2 in. \(\times 4\) in. lumber
(boards), used to build pallets. The boards move on a conveyor to the notcher
where they drop into a covered area about four feet long. The covered area
houses two sets of staggered rotating knives. The boards go through the first
set of knives, notching one end, then through the second set, which notches
the opposite end. At the time of the accident, the worker was collecting the
notched wood from the exit area of the machine. He was pulling the boards
outward as they exited the machine. He felt something hit his fingertip, and
when he pulled back, his hand had been removed near the wrist.
Additional facts in this accident include:
(a) Prior to the day of the accident, the employee had not been stationed at
the incident pallet notcher.
(b) The incident pallet notcher machine was not the employee's usual station.
(c) The employee was working near the exit area of the notcher at the time of
the accident.
(d) The area where the boards exit the machine is approximately 7 in. high and
19 to 20 in. from the point of operation. This distance is easily reachable by
an employee working at the machine exit. (OSHA report)
(e) A piece of "hung" carpet located toward the exit of the machine hindered
the visibility of the blades and allowed an employee to reach under it and
access the blades.
(f) The pallet notcher was not guarded to protect the employees from the point
of operation. (OSHA report)
(g) The employer knew that guarding was required and was aware that the pallet
notcher was not guarded. (OSHA report)
(h) The employee reportedly was not informed of the location of the blades for
the incident machine.
(i) At the time of the accident there was no warning label on the machine to
alert the employee that a cutting blade was within his reach.
(j) The employee was not instructed to use a pull stick to retrieve boards
that do not exit the machine.
(k) A "willful" citation (issued when the employer knowingly commits a
violation) was proposed for a violation of \(1910.212(\mathrm{a})(3)\) (ii).
(OSHA report)
Search the OSHA regulations at http://www.osha.gov and specifically review the
section 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii). Write a paragraph relating this section to
the above incident. Also, list ways in which this accident could have been
prevented.
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