INJURY: Loss of both thumbs

EQUIPMENT: Pedestal Grinder with Wheel Attachment

DESCRIPTION

A 12 year veteran machinist severed both thumbs while cleaning rust from an electrical gate chain. He was holding the chain horizontally across a pedestal grinding wheel brush. The chain was caught by the downward spinning wheel brush. The chain was pulled around the moving wire brush. Both thumbs were pulled into the spinning brush with the chain.

DIRECT CAUSE

· Employee failed to obtain proper equipment for the job, e.g., a portable hand-held powered brush with the chain in a vice grip.

· Employee used existing equipment improperly, i.e., holding a flexible chain into a moving pedestal grinding wheel brush.

INDIRECT CAUSES

· Supervisor failed to establish safe procedures.

· Supervisor failed to ensure a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) was conducted before this work commenced.

LESSONS LEARNED

· Supervisors and employees must ensure that proper equipment is used for each type of work.

· Supervisors must ensure that employees do not attempt to clean or buff any material made of

chain, rope, or any other flexible material that gets easily trapped or pulled in or around the

energized operating equipment.

· Supervisors are responsible for developing JHAs to ensure safe work practices are used to prevent serious injuries.