Threshold Enterprises: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 30, 1998: Employee's fingers are amputated when caught in machine

On October 30, 1998, Employee #1 was operating the Colton 250 Number 5, Vitamin Tablet Press. He began cleaning the turret that rotates while the tablets are be ing punched out one at a time, with the guard on the machine, but open. Employee #1 was using a shop vacuum to clean up the turret table, while it was still run ning, but not producing a product. A tablet became lodged in the vacuum orifice, and he tried to use a rag to dislodge the tablet in the flat vacuum attachment. The rag broke free and was pulled into the rotating turret. Employee #1's hand was also pulled into the turret, and the head that stamps out the tablets struck his right hand. He stated that a previous lead employee showed him how to clean the machine with the vacuum while the machine was running. He sustained partial amputation to his thumb and ring finger on his right hand, as well as laceratio ns to the web between his thumb and index finger. He was not hospitalized for hi s injuries.