Cal/OSHA Cites Two Companies for Lack of Safeguards Resulting in Accidental Amputation

AMERICAN CANYON, Calif., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cal/OSHA on Monday issued citations totaling $90,935 to C.C. Myers, Inc. and $7,200 to Terry Equipment, Inc. following an accident in which an employee of C.C. Myers was pulled into an unguarded concrete placer machine. The 35-year-old man was cleaning the hopper of the machine owned by Terry Equipment, and sustained traumatic injuries to his right leg that resulted in subsequent complete amputation to the hip bone.

"No employee should be at risk of such a serious injury on the job. Cal/OSHA will hold employers accountable for failing to prevent hazards that threaten the life and livelihood of California's workers," said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Cal/OSHA is a division of DIR. 

The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on November 13, 2014, on the eastbound median of Highway 4 in Antioch. As part of the paving process to expand a segment of the highway, employees of C.C. Myers lined up trucks full of concrete to dump into the concrete placer machine. The victim was assigned to help a co-worker perform cleaning and maintenance of the hopper; neither worker had been provided safety training to do so. While standing on top of the hopper chipping away at the concrete inside, the victim slipped and his leg was pulled into a rotating steel auger located inside the hopper. The emergency switch was not shut off in time, and he was transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek where he spent 12 days in recovery.

Cal/OSHA's investigation found that both C.C. Myers of Rancho Cordova and Terry Equipment of Bloomington, the company that leased the concrete placer, failed to implement adequate safety measures. C.C. Myers was issued eight citations in total, including four serious and three serious accident-related citations for failure to place a guard on the auger as well as lack of safety procedures such as lockout/tagout and related employee training. Terry Equipment Inc., was issued one serious citation for neglecting to place a guard on the machine which, as owner, the company had the ability and authority to do.

"All workers have the right to return home safe and healthy after a hard day of work," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. "While employers are directly in charge of mitigating dangers and ensuring that workers have proper safety training, suppliers also have the responsibility to protect workers by correcting any safety defects their equipment may have."

Lockout/tagout is a procedure that employers are required to have in place for energy-powered machines that could injure workers while being serviced. Cleaning operations require that machinery capable of movement be stopped and power sources fully disengaged. If necessary, the moveable parts must be mechanically blocked or locked to prevent inadvertent movement or release of stored energy. Visit the DIR website to learn more about lockout/tagout procedures and to use the employer eTool.

Cal/OSHA issues citations for serious workplace safety violations when there is a realistic possibility that conditions could result in death or serious physical harm, and willful violations where evidence shows that the employer committed an intentional and knowing violation.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA's Consultation Program provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from the Cal/OSHA Consultation Program.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may call the California Workers' Information Hotline at (866) 924-9757 for recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA District Offices.

For media inquiries contact Erika Monterroza at (510) 286-1164 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

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SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA