Precision Wire Products: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Aug 4, 2017: Employee amputates fingertip when caught in press brake

At 12:30 p.m. on August 4, 2017, Employee #1 was operating a press brake, Wysong Twin Disc #7035-028, D-23, which was in full revolution. The employee was stamping 1,000 metal identification plaques with serial number, production date, and company (employer) name using the press brake. The employee had completed about 700 of the 1,000, when the plaques jammed. Employee #1 was operating the brake without a guard in place. The employee tried to reach the jam with a tool to avoid putting his hand in the point of operation, but when he did, he inadvertently stepped on the foot pedal of the machine, engaging the mechanism. Employee #1 caught the tip of his left index finger in the point of operation, amputating his left index fingertip. The employee was treated at a local clinic and then referred to a specialized hand clinic.

Incident on Feb 16, 2017: Employee catches hand in vertical grinding wheel and receive

At 5:20 p.m. on February 16, 2017, an employee was assisting a coworker with the robot. The employee cut a piece of metal and was going to grind the edges to smooth the edge when his glove was caught and pulled his right hand/thumb into the vertical grinding wheel. The coworker disconnected the power. The employee suffered a severe laceration to his right thumb which later resulted in an amputation of the right thumb pad and nail.

Incident on Oct 5, 2010: Employee's finger is caught between tubes and amputated

On October 5, 2010, Employee #1 was a setting up a Lug machine for a production run at an incorporated company that manufactured shopping carts. The Lug machine was a modified version of a hydraulic punch press. It consisted of a hydraulic punch and multiple gun stations that welded metal tubes, which were basic compon ents of shopping carts, and then sheared the tubes. Employee #1 hand-guided a me tal tube into the point of operation, where the welding took place. A metal tube left over from the previous cycle sandwiched Employee #1's left middle finger b etween it and the tube that Employee #1 was holding. Apparently, Employee #1's f inger was amputated. He was taken to Lemus Medical Center, where he was hospital ized and treated for the injury. The Division determined that the accident was c aused by Employee #1 not deenergizing and locking out the power source during se t up, when manual adjustment was required. The Division decided to issue a gener al citation to the employer for not ensuring that the Lug machine was deenergize d and locked out during setup, when the operator was required to make manual adj ustments.

Incident on Apr 30, 2007: Employee's finger tip is amputated in power press

At approximately 9:10 a.m. on April 30, 2007, Employee #1 was using a Teledyne P ines Machine Tool vertical tube bender power operated press, Machine C-23 Serial Number 4436173556. There were no guards, two hand control buttons, magnets, or foot pedals to disengage the machine. There was a foot activated pedal. Employee #1 was producing nose base tubular metal work pieces, one at a time, and reache d into the point of operation. His left middle fingertip was crushed between the work piece and the blockhead. He was hospitalized with a partial amputation of his left middle fingertip.

Incident on Nov 26, 2006: Employee's thumb is amputated by pipe bender

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on November 26, 2006, Employee #1 was a machine oper ator with Precision Wire Products, Incorporated, a manufacturer of steel shoppin g carts for grocery stores and public warehouses. He was operating a Pines Machi ne Company tubular steel bending machine, Machine Number C-5, Serial Number 4436 1-75225. It was Employee #1's first day operating the machine. He was bending 0. 625 in. tube to make handles for shopping carts. He made a bend and then reposit ioned the work piece. He was injured when he inadvertently activated the footswi tch and the bending die closed on his left thumb. The machine was not equipped w ith any point of operation guards or devices. He was hospitalized for the amputa tion of his thumb.