CA Corrections - Corcoran: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Aug 1, 2012: Nurse assaulted by inmate while providing medical treatment

On August 1, 2012, Employee #1, a Registered Nurse working at the Substance Abus e Treatment Facility (SATF) in Corcoran, California, was assaulted by an inmate while she was providing medical treatment for a laceration to the inmate's left arm. Employee #1, while checking the blood pressure monitor, had turned her back to the inmate when he jumped up off the gurney and threw his cuffed hands aroun d the neck of the nurse. As a result of the assault, she suffered abrasions, con tusions, and lacerations. Employee #1 was transported to a nearby hospital for e valuation and treatment of her injuries and released. This incident was reported by local news media on August 10, 2012.

Incident on Nov 4, 2009: Employee amputates fingertip while closing cell door

On November 4, 2009, Employee #1 and a coworker, both correctional officers, wer e assigned as "PALTA" escorts and were assisting an inmate in a wheelchair into a holding cell at the hospital. The rail-hung cell door was not opened wide enou gh to allow the wheelchair to clear. Employee #1 passed behind his coworker and grasped the door's handle with his right hand and the rear edge with his left ha nd. Employee #1's fingers extended over the back side of the door. As Employee # 1 pulled the door to the left the door passed over a light switch with a metal g uard resulting in the partial amputation of Employee #1's finger by shearing or guillotine action. The interference distance between the switch's guard and the back surface of the door was less than 0.125-in. Employee #1 was not hospitalize d.

Incident on May 17, 2002: Employee allegedly overexposed

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on May 17, 2002, Employee #1, a tile setter from the inmate day laborer for the California Department of Corrections allegedly became ill from over exposure to Hydo-Guard 2000. The incident was reported on October 29, 2003. In a letter from Employee #1 he stated that he was very sick and was hospitalized. The hospital had no record of Employee #1 being admitted. As a res ult of interviews, documentary review and a walkthrough of the facility, no cita tion was issued.

Incident on Jul 24, 1999: Employee's finger partially amputated in bandsaw

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on July 23, 1999, Employee #1, an inmate of Corcoran State Prison, was using a Butcher Boy bandsaw to cut pieces of watermelon when his hand slipped and contacted the blade. He suffered a partial amputation of hi s right middle finger and was admitted to the prison hospital.

Incident on Jan 2, 1991: Four of employee's fingers amputated in wood planer

Employee #1, of the California Prison Industry Authority and an inmate at the st ate prison at Corcoran, was cleaning up wood chips from a Northfield planer, siz e #8, serial #890221-B, PIA #01679. The planer was shut off and the table had be en lowered 4 to 5 inches when Employee #1 began to brush wood chips so they coul d be vacuumed by the blower. His right hand contacted the rotating blades of the planer, amputating four of his fingers.