Andre Landscape Services Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Aug 24, 2009: Employee's hand is cut by blade of grass collection system

At approximately 8:42 a.m. on August 24, 2009, Employee #1 was working with a cr ew providing lawn care services at an apartment complex. The employee was operat ing an Exmark Lazer Z-HP, riding lawn mower (Model Number LHP27KC505), equipped with an Exmark Ultra Vac (Model Number LHPUV4650), grass collection system. The Ultra Vac grass collection system became clogged. The employee did not stop the engine and verify that all parts had stopped moving before he placed his left ha nd into the grass collection system. When he removed the grass that had jammed a nd stopped the blades of vacuum/blower unit, the impeller blades began to spin a nd struck his left hand. He suffered a partial amputation of the index finger an d severe lacerations and fractures to the thumb and middle finger. The employee underwent emergency hand surgery later the same day at the Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) emergency department and was released. On September 8, 2 009, Employee #1 had additional surgery and was hospitalized for 11 days.