Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report for California: Janitor Dies When He Falls into a Baling Machine that Bales Cardboard for Recycling

摘要

A 64-year-old Hispanic janitor working in a manufacturing and distributing company died when he was crushed inside a machine that bales waste cardboard for recycling. The victim climbed inside the compacting chamber of the machine while the machine was running. The point of operation on the machine was not guarded to prevent the entry of any part of an employee's body. The company had a lockout/tagout program but it was not implemented. The machine did not have any safety or warning signs affixed to the exterior around the feed chute or compaction chamber. The CA/FACE investigator determined that in order to prevent future incidents, employers who use machines that recycle waste products should ensure that: (1) The area around the machine's point of operation is guarded by barriers or interlocked safety gates. (2) Lockout/tagout procedures are implemented and enforced if workers plan to access the point of machine operation. (3) Safety and warning signs are affixed to the machine in the language of the user.