Sunnygem, LLC: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Mar 8, 2012: Employee is injures hand in silver machine feeding dowser

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on March 8, 2012, Employee #1 was working on an almon d processing line (manufacturing line Number 2), and was checking an adjustment made to the almond conveyor above the almond sliver machine. Employee #1 climbed a ladder in order to access and inspect the sliver machine feeding dowser. The employee slipped towards the sliver machine and caught his right hand inside the feeding dowser, between a set of two rollers with circular blades that were sti ll in operation. The blades inflicted lacerations to the fingers of the employee 's right hand. Employee #1 came off the ladder as he slipped and landed on the b ase of the sliver machine, with his right hand stuck between the two rollers, bu t managed to reach across his body and push the emergency stop control with his left hand. Employee #2 was leaving the building, when he was alerted to a proble m. Employee #2 proceeded to where Employee #1 was located and saw the injured em ployee standing on the base of the sliver machine at the front of the line. Empl oyee #2 realized that Employee #1 was unable to remove his right hand from the f eeding dowser rollers. Employee #2 offered to assist Employee #1 and managed to help the injured employee to extract his right hand from the sliver machine. Emp loyee #1 was given a towel to cover his injured right hand and was assisted to t he main office, while another employee contacted Emergency Medical Services. Eme rgency Medical Services arrived within minutes, and Employee #1 was examined and treated, before being transported by Kern Ambulance Service to Kern Medical Cen ter in Bakersfield. Employee #1 was admitted for treatment and underwent surgery of the right hand several times, before being released for out- patient care at approximately 7:00 p.m. on March 13, 2012.