Prime Wheel Corp: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 14, 2005: Employee is burned by baghouse fire

At about noon on October 14, 2005, Employee #1, a maintenance supervisor, arrive d back from lunch, when the filter sacs were burning inside the baghouse, since the employer's baghouse was on fire. Equipment involved in accident was Donaldso n Day Baghouse Model PJD, Serial Number IG390491. Employee #1 noticed several em ployees gathered around the baghouse. One of them was holding a water hose. Empl oyee #1 grabbed the water hose from the other employee and instructed the rest o f the employees to step back as he continued hosing down the baghouse to cool it . Employee #1 was slowly stepping back, away from the baghouse, when suddenly, h e heard a loud noise. Then, heated materials came out of the hopper in a black c loud of dust, and they ignited. The flash fire that ensued burned Employee #1. H e was hospitalized for several days.

Incident on Feb 17, 2002: Employee crushes finger in a leak tester

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on February 17, 2002, Employee #1 was operating a lea k tester to check for escaping air from tires. The machinery would pressurize a submerged tire within water and check for bubbles emanating from the surface of the rim. The test began with the positioning of the rim on test bed, then a hydr aulic ram with cap attachment on both sides of the tire. The hydraulic ram enclo sed the tire sealing it from the water. The cap attachment was equipped with an air nozzle that pressurized the tire with air. Following the tire inspection, th e test bed would rise out of the water and the hydraulic ram would disengage. To operate the machine, the worker had to press a two-hand device using both hands to initiate the ram cycles. As Employee #1 was retrieving the rim from the test bed, the ram cycled and crushed finger of his left hand. He was transported to a medical clinic where he received outpatient surgery for his injury. The accide nt resulted in his lost of mobility and extendibility in the left finger.

Incident on Oct 21, 1996: Employee's arm amputated by polishing machine

At approximately 7:40 a.m. on October 21, 1996, Employee #1 was operating a 7 HP polishing machine that was running at 2,500 rpm. He was grinding the periphery of a new polishing wheel to make it softer and less abrasive. Employee #1 was us ing a metal scraper consisting of four rows of dental plates mounted on a wooden hand holder, which was placed on the wheel's periphery while it was rotating. H e was holding the scraper with both hands and pressing it against the rotating w heel when the sleeve of his protective clothing became caught and was dragged in to the shaft by the wheel. Employee #1 tried to free himself, but his apron and protector buff became caught and he was dragged further into the shaft, resultin g in the amputation of his right arm. A coworker, who was operating another poli sher, managed to turn off Employee #1's machine. Neither the wheel nor the shaft of the polishing machine were guarded..

Incident on May 9, 1992: Employee's hand crushed by rollers

At about 10:10 a.m. on May 9, 1992, Employee #1, of Prime Wheel Corp., failed to de-energize the machine he was operating while attempting to clean the rollers. His right hand was crushed upon entering the danger zone. Employee #1 was trans ported to Bay Harbor Hospital for treatment.