Select Staffing, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 26, 2017: Employee runs over foot with lift truck and sustains lacerat

At 10:10 a.m. on July 26, 2017, Employee #1, a Packaging Technician, was using a Crown Walkie Lift Truck to lift a pallet off of the palletizer. The employee was walking it backwards towards the storage racks, into an aisle where he could turn and pivot, before powering the truck forward to move the pallet to the warehouse storage area. The aisle measured approximately 14 feet 10 inches from the palletizer to the toe board at the base of storage racks. The lift truck measured approximately nine feet in length leaving between five and six feet in the aisle to pivot. While backing the pallet off of the palletizer with the lift truck, Employee #1 backed himself across the aisle into the toe board of the storage racks and continued to power the lift truck, which proceeded over his left foot causing crushing injuries. The employee sustained lacerations and fractures to his foot. It was noted that the employee was still in his training period for use of the Walkie Lift Truck. Employee #1 was transported to a local hospital for his injuries, where he remained until July 28, 2017. July 28, 2017.

Incident on Aug 14, 2016: Employee amputates finger while using band saw

At 9:30 a.m. on August 14, 2016, an employee was using a meat band saw to slice meat when his right hand slipped and contacted the blade. He amputated his right index finger, which he was hospitalized and treated for.

Incident on Feb 16, 2014: Employee crushes hand in pallet truck accident

On February 16, 2014, Employee #1 was operating a stand up pallet truck picking orders from the storage racks. He was driving the pallet truck down an aisle in the wrong direction and came to the end of the aisle to make a right hand turn t o enter the adjacent aisle. While entering the aisle, the right side of the pall et truck collided with the metal storage rack, crushing his hand in between the control handle and the rack. Employee #1 was taken to LAC USC where he was hospi talized and received surgery for crushing injuries to his right hand.

Incident on Jan 17, 2014: Temp worker amputates finger in conveyer chain

On January 17, 2014, Employee #1, a 29 year-old male production worker with Sele ct Staffing, was working on a conveyer line. The chain and sprocket drive was lo cated underneath the cup-line number B conveyor between the sealing machine and the shrink wrapping machine and was approximately 30 in. above the floor and was guarded on all but one side with a fixed metal guard. The unguarded opening was approximately 3 in. by 5 in. and was measured to be 18 in. away from the hazard ous pinch point. Employee #1 had a roll of tape inside the space, reached inside to retrieve the tape when his fingers came into contact with the chain and spro cket resulting in an amputation of the right middle, ringer and second finger ti ps. Employee #1 suffered an amputation of the tips of the three fingers on his r ight hand as a result of coming into contact with a chain and sprocket drive on a conveyor. Employee #1 was an employee of Select Staffing and was working at a secondary employer's worksite, Maruchan Inc., where he had been employed full-ti me since 2009.

Incident on Dec 3, 2013: Meat cutter amputates finger with bandsaw

At about 11:00 p.m. on December 3, 2013, an employee was working as a butcher at a meat processing plant. The employee had been at work that day for approximate ly three hours. At the time of the incident, he was performing his regularly ass igned task of cutting meat with a band saw. The guard on the band saw was approx imately 50 millimeters (2 inches) above the material being cut. The guard was no t adjusted as close as possible to the table as it could have been without inter fering with the movement of the material being cut. The saw caught a bone, and t he meat slipped out of the employee's hand. The employee's hand continued to mov e away and up until it made contact with the blade. He sustained an amputation. A coworker was nearby, and the employee was transported to the Los Angeles Count y + USC Medical Center Hospital. The employer notified the Division was notified of the accident at 2:14 p.m. on December 4, 2013. The Division initiated an ins pection on January 28, 2014. Interviews were conducted of the employee and two c oworkers. The investigation concluded that a guarding violation had occurred. As a result, the Division issued a Serious Accident Related citation for T8CCR 454 3(b) (2).

Incident on Jan 2, 2014: Worker sustains arm fractures while cleaning kettle

At either 10:35 a.m. or p.m. on January 2, 2014, an employee was working as a sa nitation worker at a poultry farm in Compton, CA. The employee had been sent by a temporary employment agency to work there. He had been employed by either the agency or the farm since December 26, 2013. At the time of the incident, the emp loyee was cleaning Kettle Number 6. To perform this task, the employee was instr ucted by a coworker to hose down the exterior portion of the kettle. For an unde termined reason, the employee climbed up a step ladder and reached inside the ke ttle. He may have inadvertently activated the kettle, as his right arm was pulle d into the kettle's moving agitator. He sustained multiple fractures in his righ t arm. He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries. The causal factor was that the employee placed his hand on an unguarde d portion of the mixer while the machine was running. His direct supervisor, a s econd coworker, seemed not to have been involved. At approximately 1:15 p.m. on January 3, 2014, a representative from Select Staffing reported the accident to a Cal/OSHA district office.

Incident on Nov 27, 2013: Employee amputates finger on conveyor belt

On or about November 27, 2013, Employee #1, a contract employee with Select Staf fing LLC, was working at Pegasus Foods Inc., and was operating a transfer convey or belt's chain- and-sprocket nip points. Employee #1 was setting up the "Rangoo n Line" in Bakery (Number Two), in which a series of conveyors was involved. A c onveyor fed the product to the transfer conveyor which then fed the product to t he conveyor on a shrink wrap machine. The chain-and-sprocket nip points on the t ransfer conveyor were not adequately guarded. There was no ID tag on the transfe r conveyor. It was approximately four ft long, 15 ins wide and three ft high. Tw o factors caused the accident. Employee #1 did not lockout/tag out the transfer conveyor before adjusting it, i.e., moving it slightly to line it up with the sh rink wrap machine. Also, the chain-and-sprocket parts on the transfer conveyor w ere not fully guarded. They were guarded on the outside but not on the inside. E mployee #1 was not hospitalized. Employee #1 lost part of her left ring finger.

Incident on Aug 7, 2013: Employee amputates finger in roller line

At approximately 11:10 a.m. on August 7, 2013, an employee was cleaning the roll er line when he reached for a piece of dough stuck on a chain and gear drive. Th e employee placed his hand into a running gear drive while cleaning the roller l ine. His finger was caught between the chains and amputated. The employee was ho spitalized and treated for his injuries.

Incident on Jun 4, 2013: Employee sustains an amputation with a bandsaw

At approximately 1:15 p.m. on June 4, 2013, Employee #1, of Select Staffing, had an accident while using a meat bandsaw to cut partially thawed beef shank witho ut the use of a pusher plate. At the time of the accident, Employee #1 was in th e meat processing room, using one of three meat bandsaws. He was cutting beef sh ank pieces that were approximately 7 inches thick into pieces that were 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch thick. The meat band saw involved in the accident was a Pro-Saw SS-1 6 HS Band Saw, manufactured by MPBS Industries. Its dimensions are 36.5 inches b y 46 inches by 83.7 inches. It appeared that the absence of a pusher plate contr ibuted to this serious accident. Employee #1 was taken to County USC Medical Cen ter for treatment. He lost much of the thumb and index finger on his right hand.

Incident on Feb 8, 2013: Employee fractures finger while cleaning mixer

At approximately 1:05 p.m. on March 8, 2013, Employee #1 was cleaning the chow-m ien mixer on line 1. As the employee completed cleaning the chow-mien mixer, he removed the locks from the mixer's power supply and restarted the mixer's paddle s located in the mixer's tank. As the mixer ran, Employee #1 opened the above ha tch of the mixer and observed dough residue remaining on the inner wall of the m ixer's tank. To remove the residue from the inner wall of the mixer's tank, the employee placed his right hand into the tank. The rotating mixer paddle caught E mployee #1's right hand and pinned it against the inner wall of the mixer's tank . The supervisor and coworker came to assistance the employee. Employee #1 was t aken to Superior Medical Clinic, and was later referred to Western Hand clinic, where he was treated for a fracture to his right hand. Employee #1 received surg ery to repair the broken index finger of his right hand and released after two d ays.

Incident on May 8, 2012: Employee fractures leg when air compressor falls

At 10:50 a.m. on May 8, 2012, Employee #1 of Select Staffing, the primary employ er, was working as a warehouse laborer (swamper) at Price Transfer Inc. on the d ay of the accident. Employee #1 and Employee #2 (swampers) were emptying by hand a parked truck trailer. The truck trailer was parked at Loading Dock 113 at War ehouse Number Three. As Employee #1 and Employee #2 emptied the truck trailer by hand, they came upon a 5 to 6 foot long, approximately 600 pound round bottom a ir compressor standing on its legs against the side of the truck trailer. Needin g to remove the air compressor from the truck trailer, Employee #1 and Employee #2 asked Employee #3, a forklift operator, to remove the air compressor from the truck trailer. The forklift operator entered the truck trailer and placed the f orklift forks underneath the round bottom of the compressor and lifted the air c ompressor in its vertical position and started to back out of the truck trailer. As the forklift operator moved backwards, Employee #1 and Employee #2 entered t he truck trailer and stood on the sides of the air compressor so as to balance ( support) the air compressor on the forks of the forklift as the forklift moved b ackward. As the forklift moved to the dock plate between the trailer and the loa ding dock, the air compressor shifted and started to fall in the direction of Em ployee #1. As the compressor fell, Employee #1 attempted to move out of the air compressor's way; however, Employee #1 could not get completely out of the way a nd the lower section of the air compressor fell onto Employee #1's right leg. On ce the air compressor landed on Employee #1's right leg, Employee #3 backed the forklift out of the trailer and with the assistance of Employee #2 freed Employe e #1 from the under the air compressor, and sat Employee #1 down. A supervisor w as notified, who then called Emergency Services. The Los Angeles County fire dep artment and paramedics responded and transported Employee #1 to Harbor UCLA Hosp ital in Carson, California. At Harbor UCLA Hospital, Employee #1 was admitted an d underwent surgery on May 9, 2012, for the fracture he received to his lower ri ght leg.

Incident on Sep 12, 2011: Employee is struck by broken glass and lacerates wrist

At approximately 7:45 p.m. on September 12, 2011, Employee #1 was lifting a 40 i n.-by-82 in.-by- 0.25 in. clear glass from the inspection table. He had previous ly cleaned and inspected the glass. As he lifted the glass to set it on a glass rack approximately 3 ft away from the inspection table, the glass broke. Shards of broken glass struck him, severely lacerating his left wrist. Employee #1 was transported via an ambulance to a medical center, where he underwent surgical pr ocedures and was hospitalized for postoperative care.

Incident on Nov 4, 2010: Employee is injured when leg caught by conveyor

At 3:15 p.m. on November 4, 2010, Employee #1, a temporary employee of Sanrio, I nc. at a distribution center for a manufacturer of toys, was injured when her le g was entangled in a conveyor assembly. Employee #1 was employed as a temporary line worker at the facility and assisted in the picking, selection, placement an d packing of goods into cartons for distribution. This work took place using and working near a large network of powered conveyor lines. Employee #1 was assigne d to work applying labels in the packing area, an area where she had not worked before. Three conveyor lines are created for the labeling process. Employee #1 w as injured when she tried to cross over an operating section of conveyor line Nu mber 1, pinning her ankle between two of the rollers. Employee #1 stated she was trying to assist another worker whose line was filled with cartons to be labele d and that no one had instructed her in the use or purpose of the stair crossove r system provided by the employer for movement between the lines. Employee #1 wa s taken to a clinic for treatment of her ankle and a back sprain or strain.

Incident on Nov 11, 2010: Employee is injured when struck by automatic dock door

At 1:03 p.m. on November 11, 2010, Employee #1, of Select Staffing, was finishin g loading a truck at dock Number 9. Employee #1 pressed the controller to close the automatic dock door. The door was stuck and was not able to be lowered. He s tepped forward, directly under the door, and looked up to see what was preventin g the door from being lowered. At that moment, the door cable broke and fell on Employee #1. He was transported to UCLA Harbor Hospital and treated for injuries suffered to his left shoulder, ribs, and right knee.

Incident on Jul 20, 2010: Worker amputates fingertip when shear is actuated

On July 20, 2010, Employee #1 was working for his primary employer, the temporar y employment agency Select Staffing, Inc. He was working as a molding operator a t his secondary employer, Innovative Rotational Molding, in Madera CA. He and a coworker were shearing light gauge metal with a manually-operated Tennsmith Mode l 52 square shear. According to one account, Employee #1 was on the backside of the shear, measuring the material to be cut with a metal tape measure, when the shear was actuated. As Employee #1 reached to pull the measuring tape clear of t he shear, his index finger was caught by the shear, and its distal end was parti ally amputated. An investigation, though, made another determination. Employee # 1 stated that he was working alone, and that he was in front of the shear, measu ring the material to be cut with a metal tape. He had his foot resting on the tr eadle that engaged the mechanism on the shear that held material down. At the sa me time, he was attempting to retract the measuring tape, but the tape's end hoo k would not release. Employee #1 reached behind the shear to lift or release the end hook. This awkward posture caused him to lose balance and depress the tread le. The shear sliced off a portion of his nail and some flesh from the tip of hi s finger. There was no bone loss. After the investigation, it was judged that th e injury did not meet the labor code's definition of "serious" and that there ha d been no violation of 8CCR 4227(e). Employee #1 was found to have sufficient ex perience and training to be considered qualified to operate the shear. Both the primary and the secondary employer had a well devised health and safety program in accordance with DOSH standards and policies pertaining to dual employer inspe ctions.

Incident on Jun 25, 2010: Employee fall from ladder and fractures hip

On June 25, 2010, Employee #1 was cleaning the top and lid of 5000-gallon tanks, which contained olives. He was not directed to enter the tanks, just the top an d lid. The tanks are a non-permit-required confined space hazard. Employee #1 en tered a tank to possible unplug the drain in the tank. He properly descended dow n into the tank with a harness and lanyard. As per the policy, Employee #1 disco nnected the lanyard at four rungs from the bottom of the tank, when he fell and fractured his hip. The fire department was summoned and he was removed from the tank using a high angle pick procedure with a stokes basket. Employee #1 was tak en to Tracy Memorial Hospital, where he received medical attention for a fractur ed pelvis and was hospitalized.

Incident on Mar 25, 2010: Employee injures hand in machine

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on March 25, 2010, Employee #1, an employee of Select Staffing employment agency, was working at SF Spice Company at machine PR-1 on a cup line. Employee #1 was placing a spice bag in each cup while machine PR-1 w as filling cups with dry food. Machine PR-1 had a pinch point distance between t he cup line and the chute of 1.25 in. In front of the chute was a 6 in. high pro truding bar which was an obstruction. Machine PR-1 was not guarded. Employee #1 said she was working alone, and the cup line was moving too fast. The hand of Em ployee #1 got caught between the chute (the tube which was dropping and pushing the food into the cups) was crushed and fractured. Employee #1 was not hospitali zed.

Incident on Sep 8, 2009: Two employees are injured when pallets fall off forklift

At 6:40 p.m. on September 8, 2009, two employees of a personnel agency were work ing at a raisin processing plant. The two employees incurred head, neck and back pain when they were hit by pallets that fell from a forklift as it came around a corner. The employees were transported to Selma Community Hospital, where they were treated and released.

Incident on Nov 17, 2009: Employee is injured by falling objects

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on November 17, 2009, Employee #1, a temporary employ ee from Select Staffing Recycling Incorporated, was working on Corridor Recyclin g loading dock. He used a Toyota fork lift and started to unload wooden pallets from a truck container. As Employee #1 operated the forklift, he got off to adju st the forks of the lift so he could properly lift the wooden pallets. When he a djusted the fork lift, a bale of stacked cardboard (positioned behind him) fell and struck him on the back driving him forward, causing him to strike the forks of the fork lift with his left leg and the side of his head. Employees in immedi ate area came to Employee's #1's aid and contacted Carson Fire Department. The f ire department transported Employee #1 to Torrance Memorial for treatment of a f ractured leg. Further investigation revealed that the accident was caused by Emp loyee #1 being in the wrong position to do the task.

Incident on Jul 24, 2009: Employee's finger is amputated in conveyor

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 24, 2009, Employee #1, a warehouse lineman, w as taking cases of finished product off a conveyor line. He noticed that the bel ting on the diverter came off the pulley and he was trying to reinstall the belt on the running equipment. His finger was caught in the belt and pulley and was amputated.

Incident on Apr 30, 2009: Employee amputates fingers while using saw

On April 30, 2009, Employee #1 was working in the Pike Department as an assemble r. He was operating the CTD Mitre saw to cut pieces of PVC frame sliders, approx imately 16 in. long from a 10 ft section. Employee #1 was completing an order on the saw when he was distracted by surrounding noise in the workplace, such as a loud radio, other machinery or someone calling his name. He turned his body awa y from the saw and his left hand, which was holding material, was placed under t he blade while he pulled the blade down. Four fingers on his left hand were comp letely amputated, and the little finger was amputated to the first knuckle. Empl oyee #1 was transported by ambulance to Holy Cross Hospital. He was kept there u ntil he was transferred to L.A. County USC Medical Center, where he had surgery to reattach the ring finger and little fingers. After two days, they had to remo ve the fingers because of the lack of blood flow/no circulation supplying the fi ngers. He was hospitalized for six more days.

Incident on Dec 15, 2008: Employee's finger tip is amputated in liquid filling machine

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on December 15, 2008, Employee #1 was demonstrating t he functions of a Biner Ellison pneumatic liquid filler machine to a coworker. T he machine operated under approximately 120 to150 psi. Employee #1 attached the air hose to the machine and activated the machine. When he removed the nozzle to check for the sphere movement, he placed his left index finger into the opening . The pressure caused the sphere to spin and the tip of his finger was amputated . He did not required hospitalization for his injury.

Incident on Jan 9, 2008: Employee steps on nail and is injured

At 6:00 a.m. on January 9, 2008, Employee #1 was working outdoors. He stepped on a metal nail and was injured. Employee #1 was transported to Fresno Community H ospital, where he was treated, hospitalized, and released after 24 hours. The Re gional Safety Manager reported the incident to the Cal/OSHA Fresno District offi ce on January 22, 2008.

Incident on Nov 20, 2007 (fatal): Employee's finger is amputated in pump

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on November 20, 2007, Employee #1, a sanitizer and a line washer, was unjamming a filler of the FL2751 pump, B.E. Filler F52 TDG 24S S3343, which was located in the manufacturing area at a line Number 3. Employee #1's left middle finger was caught between moving rotator and the body and was a mputated. Employee #1 was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Center, whe re he underwent surgery on his left hand middle finger.

Incident on Nov 12, 2007: Employee suffers amputation of fingers due to frost bite

Employee #1 was working in a freezer at a temperature of approximately minus 8 d egrees Fahrenheit. Employee #1 suffered frostbite to his fingers which resulted in the amputation on an unspecified number of fingers. Employee #1 was not hospi talized.

Incident on Sep 21, 2007: Employee is pinned between forklift and rack system

As a result of an investigation, it was determined by the division that the fact s of the accident did not warrant a 170.

Incident on Jul 9, 2007: Employee amputates finger in bending machine

On July 9, 2007, an employee was working as a machine operator in the Machine Sh op, Windows area, on second shift between 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The employee w as operating one of the four Pines Extrusion Bending Machines, when another oper ator on Bending Machine Number 3, called him over to his machine because the pie ces he was bending were not coming out right. He went over to Bending Machine Nu mber 3, and told the operator to press the start button, which he did. At the ti me, the employee had placed his right hand on the machine and it was resting on top of the clamp when the operator activated the machine. The employee's right r ing finger was smashed between the moving clamp and the follower bar, resulting in amputation of the right ring finger below the first joint. The employee was t aken to the supervisor's office and was told to wait there until the supervisor returned. When the supervisor got there, he told him to wait until the represent ative from Select got there. They waited for about 30 minutes until the supervis or told a coworker to take him to Valley Presbyterian Hospital, where he was exa mined. Upon arrival, they were told there was no hand specialist available at th e hospital to treat his injury and that he should go either to UCLA Medical Cent er, Santa Monica, or L.A. County USC Medical Center, Los Angeles. He was driven to UCLA Medical Center by the coworker, where he was told they could not reattac h the amputated portion of the finger because they did not have a surgery team t here for that type of finger injury. They took x-rays and put some stitches on t op of his finger. The next day he was taken to Valley Occupational Center, where he was evaluated by a doctor and was told to go to Dr. Alarick Yung. He went to Dr. Yung and had surgery on his finger two days after the accident. The employe e was not hospitalized.

Incident on Jun 5, 2006: Employee amputates finger using powered metal shear

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on June 5, 2006, Employee #1, a machine operator in a manufacturing facility, was operating a powered metal shear for cutting metal parts. Employee #1 was manually loading 16-guage sheet metal 12-inch squares int o an AFM metal shear (model 6-31, serial #CHGS/9-51312). Employee #1 was cutting the material in half to form 6-in. by 12-in. pieces. Employee #1 had finished t he last piece of a 150-piece production run. Employee #1 put his hand under the point-of-operation guard to push the last piece out of the shear, when he inadve rtently activated the covered foot pedal, which caused the shear to operate. Whe n the shear activated, the material "hold down" device came down and crushed Emp loyee #1's left middle finger and amputating its tip. Employee #1 was transporte d to Valley Occupational Medical Center. The investigation concluded that the in jured employee was able to place his hand into the danger zone of the shear beca use the point-of-operation fixed barrier guard presented a 0.5-in. gap between t he guard and the table bed at the time of the accident. The maximum allowable ga p for a shear is 0.375 in. between the guard and the table bed.

Incident on Jan 19, 2006: Employee's finger is amputated in machine

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on January 19, 2006, Employee #1, was performing mai ntenance on a Resina Screw Capper, Serial Number RC 3775473, Model Number 040 58 9. This machine is used to tighten the tops on shampoo bottles. According to Emp loyee #1, bottles on the conveyor belt inside the machine were falling over. Wit hout locking out the machine, he reached into the opening of the output side wit h his right arm to straighten the bottles. The small finger of his gloved hand c aught in the hard rubber chain of the machine, was crushed, and amputated. Emplo yee #1 was not hospitalized. A Plexiglas guard extended 19 inches from the point of operation.