Plant Sciences, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Dec 18, 2012: Employee amputates finger when caught in pulley and flywheel

On December 18, 2012, Employee #1, with Plant Sciences Inc., was inspecting the alternator belt on a company backhoe when a coworker started the backhoe without first checking to see if Employee #1 was clear of the machinery. Employee #1's right index finger was caught between the pulley and flywheel and was subsequent ly amputated just above the distal knuckle. Employee#1 was driven by a coworker to a nearby medical clinic and then to a hospital, where he underwent surgery to cover the finger's end.

Incident on Sep 20, 2012: Employee's finger is crushed when caught in hopper rotor

At approximately 6:30 pm, on September 20, 2012, Employee #1, a farm research te chnician, was cleaning the hopper of a Gandy applicator. During the cleaning pro cess, the employee's finger came in contact with the rotating blade on the rotor inside the hopper. Employee #1's finger was caught between the blade and the in side of the hopper. The employee was transported to an area hospital, where he h ad surgery to remove the crushed part of the bone in his right index finger. Emp loyee #1 remained hospital for five days.

Incident on Apr 5, 2004: Employee is injured when pulled into baler machine

On April 5, 2004, Employee #1 and a coworker were walking between a tractor and its baler, picking up plastic sheeting and inserting it into the baler. Employee #1's right arm became caught in the roller of the baler, which pulled Employee #1 into the baler. Employee #1 was working in a strawberry field at the time of the incident. The only equipment being used at the time of the incident was a Ne w Holland baler and the tractor, which was pulling it. Employee #1 did not recei ve training on the use of the baler. The baler was not sufficiently guarded to p revent injury from being pulled into the baler, and there was no emergency devic e to stop the baler's action once entangled in the baler. Employee #1 received m ultiple injuries to his right hand, arm, right side, nose, throat, teeth, and a punctured lung. This has resulted in problems with sleeping and blurry vision.