Cacique, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Nov 30, 2009: Employee suffers amputation on cheese grinder machine

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on November 30, 2009, Employee #1 and a coworker were attempting to drain whey from the cheese grinder machine bin in the "De-Whey De partment". According to the employer, Employee #1 stuck his finger into the drai n hole at the bottom to unclog cheese that was stuck in it, while the coworker w as jogging the screw conveyor forward and backward attempting to drain whey from the bin. According to Employee #1, it is normal practice to use his finger to u nclog cheese that becomes lodged inside the drain spout of the cheese grinder wh ile the crew conveyor is turning. Employee #1 learned this practice by observing the previous cheese grinder operator. However, according to Employee #1, during the accident he was attempting to remove the cheese and whey that had collected on the tray with his hand to dump them into a bucket below. While removing chee se from the collection tray, Employee #1 stated his left index finger accidental ly went up and into the drain hole/spout causing a distal tip amputation of the left index finger. Employee #1 was treated as an outpatient at Citrus Valley Med ical Center, Queen of the Valley Campus and Western Hand and Orthopedics Center

Incident on Aug 20, 2007: Employee's eye punctured by flying metal

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on August 20, 2007, Employee #1, a maintenance mechan ic, was buffing a piece of metal. In the process, the piece of metal dislodged f rom the tri-stand vise. The piece of metal flew and hit Employee #1 in the eye c ausing him to be hospitalized for 4 days for treatment.

Incident on Aug 6, 2002: Employee fractures fingers when caught by lathe

On August 6, 2002, Employee #1 was working for a cheese manufacturer, and demons trating to a new coworker how to sand burrs. He mounted a 2 in. diameter by 2 ft long metal keyway into a lathe. As the keyway rotated in the lathe, he wrapped a 2 in. wide strip of belt sander sandpaper around the keyway. Employee #1 was h olding each end of the sandpaper when his right glove became caught by the lathe , fracturing three of his fingers. He later stated that he felt he should not ha ve been wearing gloves while sanding the keyway.

Incident on May 9, 2002: Employee's hand is amputated by blades of an auger conveyor

On May 9, 2002, an employee at a cheese manufacturing company was working in the research and development section of the facility. At the time of the accident, the employee had been handling product, which required him to put his hands near the rotating blades of a shop-built cheese auger. The employee's right hand was drawn into the auger, amputating his hand. The machine was not properly guarded . The victim was hospitalized.

Incident on Jul 12, 2001: Employees's finger amputated by packaging machine

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on July 12, 2001, Employee #1, a machine operator (pa ckager) was adjusting a valve located underneath the Tiromat-3 packaging machine while the machine was on. The valve was located in between the chain and the sp rockets. The employee's right index finger became caught in the nip point of the chain and sprockets causing it to be amputated up to the first knuckle.