Key Technology, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jun 17, 2020: Employee partially amputates finger when caught in conveyor

At 8:00 a.m. on June 17, 2020, an employee working as a conveyor service contractor for a commercial and industrial equipment maintenance service was working at a distribution warehouse. The employee was servicing a FMH MAXXReach Telescopic Conveyor (MR3-25/80-30 Loader). A coworker (service manager) who supervised the employee was not on site at the time. The employee was in the starting phases of servicing the conveyor and had completed placing caution tape around the machine and isolating the area. The employee then removed the access plate that was covering the drive chains of the conveyor. He stuck his left hand in to the access port to check the tension of the chain. As he did this, the conveyor jogged forward and caught his hand in the nip point where the chain and sprocket meet. The employee had his hand palm side up and to the left of the sprocket and chain. As the sprocket turned clockwise, the nip point missed three fingers but caught his left index finger. The employee amputated his finger to the base of the nail bed. He was transported to the hospital for medical treatment but was not hospitalized.