Niagara Bottling, LLC: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jun 15, 2010: Employee's finger is amputated in chain sprocket

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on June 15, 2010, Employee #1, of Niagara Bottling L LC, was cleaning a running chain sprocket drive. Employee #1 removed the plexi g lass cover over the chain sprocket drive, and some paper towel got caught. His h and was pulled into the chain sprocket. Employee #1 was transported to the hospi tal for treatment of an amputation to his left thumb above the first knuckle and severed nerves on both sides of his left index finger.

Incident on Mar 12, 2008: Employee's arm is injured while reaching into machine

On March 12, 2008, Employee #1 was working for a company that manufactured, fill ed, packaged, and transported plastic water bottles. He was monitoring a Rotatin g Unscrambler machine (manufactured by Lanfranchi, Model Number L3-SR-21/18/36, Serial Number 1670-533-99). This machine would place empty bottles into an uprig ht position before entering a filling machine. When the unscrambler machine woul d become jammed, it would be operated in the "jog" mode - where the machine woul d slowly rotate to locate and remove the jammed bottle. However, the control pan el for the jog mode was faulty. The panel was rigged with bare wires that an emp loyee would manually connect in order to begin the jog mode. To end the jog mode , an employee would separate the wires that were in his hands. The power source to this panel would remain energized during this process. Employee #1 followed t his process to activate the jog mode to locate a jammed bottle. While reaching i nto the machine for the jammed bottle with his right arm, he inadvertently conne cted the two wires, which were both in his left hand. Employee #1's right forear m was caught in the machine. After being extricated, Employee #1 was hospitalize d for an avulsion of his right forearm.

Incident on Jul 27, 2007: Employee lacerates finger when caught by machine

Employee #1's finger was crushed by a machine. Employee #1 sustained lacerations but no serious injury and was not hospitalized.

Incident on Dec 5, 2005: Employee is injured while replacing hose on equipment

On December 5, 2005, Employee #1 was replacing a hot air hose for a plastic pell et dryer, manufactured by AEC Whitlock; Model Number WD225. This equipment was i nstalled on a metal frame approximately 11 ft above the floor. The dryer was a c ylindrical vessel, approximately 4 ft in diameter and 4 ft high. Employee #1 use d a ladder to access the defective hose. To balance himself, he grabbed onto the top part of the cylindrical dryer with his right hand. He was injured, when his fingers were caught in the moving parts of the material regulator valve, which is located between the hopper and the dryer vessel. The moving parts of the regu lator are usually enclosed with a metal guard, however, the guard had been remov ed during a prior shift. Employee #1was hospitalized for the amputation of part of his right middle finger, and fractures to his right index and ring fingers.

Incident on Aug 10, 2003: Molding machine amputates employee's finger

On August 10, 2003, Employee #1 was adjusting a Nissei ASB PF8-4B blow mold mach ine which was not working properly. Employee #1 could not ascertain what was wro ng unless the machine was operating. Employee #1 overrode the safety interlock o n the door which allowed access to the moving parts, and as he was preparing to make repairs, his right thumb was crushed by a moving part of the machine. Emplo yee #1 suffered an amputation but was not hospitalized.

Incident on Jul 1, 2002: Employee's finger is amputated in machinery

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on July 1, 2002, Employee #1, a contract employee of Niagara Bottling, was operating an Okme Tray Packer in which plastic containers of bottled water are mechanically placed in cardboard trays. According to an emp loyer representative, Employee #1 had slid a plexiglass shield aside to free a j ammed a tray. His right little finger became entangled in a chain and sprocket a t the in-feed portion of the conveyor line. Employee #1 was hospitalized for a p artial amputation of the finger. Employee #1, who operated this machine for appr oximately three months, did not respond to requests to be interviewed about this accident.