Remo Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Mar 4, 2008: Employee suffers electric shock

On March 4, 2008, Employee #1, a mechanic at Remo Inc., was injured. Employee #1 was replacing one of three drive chains on the "Orca III Laminating Machine in the Laminating Department. Employee #1 turned the machine off at the "E" Stop co ntrol and at the on/off switch. This shuts off power to the rollers; however, it does not de-energize the machine from its main power source. Employee #1 remove d the panel on the side of the machine to gain access to the chain. First, he re moved the old chain and began to install the new chain, which is approximately 8 feet long. Employee #1 fed the chain around the sprockets and had reached the t op to connect the chain together, when his left arm accidentally touched the ene rgized heating element wire. Employee #1 immediately felt an electrical shock in his body, his arms contracted, he fell backwards to the floor and felt pain in his chest. The electrical current was 208 volts/30 amps. The paramedics were cal led and he was transported to Henry Mayo Hospital. Employee #1 was kept in the h ospital overnight and received chest x-rays, cat scan, blood tests, EKG, heart m onitoring, and pain medication for a headache.

Incident on Sep 17, 1997: Employee's fingertip amputated in laminating machine

On September 17, 1997, Employee #1, of Remo, Inc., was operating a "Harlan" hot- roll laminating machine. He was using the overhead hoist, which had a lifting de vice that cradled the ends of rolls and set them in the machine, to place a roll of material into the shaft chucks. After setting the roll in place, Employee #1 lowered the lifting device slightly, and then set the hoist controls in a manne r that allowed him to view the shaft he had just set down. He put one hand on th e bottom of the shaft and was leaning over the rail to look at it when he inadve rtently placed his right elbow on the hoist control and hit the UP button. This caused the hoist to rise, amputating the tip of his left index finger between th e lifting apparatus and the shaft. He was taken to Henry Mayo Hospital for emerg ency treatment.