A 26 year old male clean up person at a veneer manufacturing facility died afterbeing struck by a rotating cut off saw while trying to clear a jammed log from the sawline. The employer was a hardwood veneer manufacturing company of 174 employees, working two 12 hour shifts per day. The victim had been working at the site for 8 weeks. The victim and coworkers were working a semiautomatic log processing system (sawline). Logs were processed on the line to be used in manufacturing veneer. A log jammed at the cut off saw and several attempts were made to free it so the work could continue. At one point the victim jumped up on the out feed conveyor frame. The grader operator observed the victim on the out feed conveyor near the rotating saw and signaled to the debarker operator to shut down the saw. Recommendations include ensuring that lockout/tagout procedures be developed and implemented to protect workers, that control panels be configured to prevent inadvertent activation of assembly line functions, and that a comprehensive safety program be developed which includes training employees in hazards recognition and avoidance.
展开▼
