OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14548903
STUBENBERG CO LTD
EWA BEACH, HI—
Event description
STRUCK AND CRUSHED BY FALLING PART OF CANE HARVESTER
Investigation abstract
EMPLOYEE #1 HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE LONG CANE HAVESTER FOR ABOUT A WEEK DISSASSE THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS. HE WAS STANDING AND WORKING UNDER THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM NEAR THE STOPPER BAR OF THE ELEVATING CONVEYOR. HE FIRST REMOVED THE RIGHT HYDRA ULIC CYLINDER, WHICH WAS HELD BY TWO PINS, USING A DRIFT PUNCH AND BALL PEEN HAM MER. THE HEADSHAFT SECTION DID NOT MOVE. HE THOUGHT IT WOULD HOLD UP WITHOUT BEI NG PROPPED UP OR SECURED. WHEN HE REMOVED ONE OF THE PINS ON THE LEFT HYDRAULIC CYLINDER, THE HEADSHAFT SECTION, WHICH WAS MOUNTED AT THE PIVOT POINT, SWUNG DOW N, PINNING EMPLOYEE #1 AGAINST THE STOPPER BAR. THE MIDSECTION OF HIS BODY WAS B ADLY CRUSHED. HE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. ONE KIDNEY HAD TO BE REMOVED. HIS SPLEEN AND LIVER WERE DAMAGED. HE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO HIS HIP AND BACK, BRUISED HIS RIBS AND SUFFERED A COLLAPSED COLON. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED. MBLING THE BASE CUTTER AND HARVESTER CONVEYOR SYSTEM. HE HAD BEEN WORKING VERY W ELL, WITHOUT MUCH SUPERVISION. HIS SUPERVISOR HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO REMOVE THE H EADSHAFT SECTION FROM THE ELEVATING CONVEYOR OF THE HARVESTER'S CONVEYOR SYSTEM. THE ELEVATING CONVEYOR HAD BEEN LIFTED OFF THE HARVESTER MACHINE AND LAID ON TH E FLOOR. THE EMPLOYEES ARE INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ONLY WHAT THEY CAN AND REUSE PAR TS SUCH AS THE HEADSHAFT SECTION AND THE ADJUSTABLE TAKE UP ARMS. THESE ARMS ARE CONNECTED TO A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AT THE PIVOT POINT (ONE CYLINDER ON EACH SIDE ). WITHOUT FIRST SECURING THE HEADSHAFT SECTION, EMPLOYEE #1 PROCEEDED TO REMOVE
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 32 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 2
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 4
- Hazardous substance
- 8880
- Task assigned
- 1
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