Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1481791.015 - City Of Vallejo

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Investigation Summary

At 8:55 a.m. on June 16, 2020, an employee working as a utility mechanic (supervisor) for a city water department was working at a pump station. The city water department provides water service to residents and businesses throughout the city with over 38,000 service connections. The employee had been employed by the city for approximately 11 years and worked for the water department for approximately 7 of those years. He had started as a maintenance worker where he worked for approximately 4 years before promoting to a utility mechanic lead. The employee had approximately 7 months experience in his current position. He worked from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday reporting to Coworker #1 (immediate supervisor). Coworker #1 assigned the employee and Coworker #2 to complete a work order that called for the repair of an isolation valve at a pump station. The valve was located in a pit below several sections of 3/16-inch heavy gauge galvanized steel grating. The grating measured approximately 47.5-inch by 33.75-inch by x 2-inch and weighed approximately 225 pounds. Upon arrival, Coworker #2 began to remove tools from the truck as the employee started to remove a section of the grating to gain access to the valve. As the employee lifted the grating, it began to slide on top of another section of grating still in place. As he lifted, he had his fingers positioned between the openings in order to hold the grate. He lowered and slid the section down while his fingers were still inside of the openings. In doing so, he caught his left middle finger between the two grates. The employee amputated his middle fingers and was hospitalized.

Keywords: Amputated, Amputation, Caught Between, Finger, Grate, Grating, Hazard Assessment, Injury Illness Prevention Program, Instantaneous amputation, Lack of Work Procedures, Lead, Lost Control, Maintenance, Material Handling, Mechanic, Misjudgment, Misjudgment of Hazardous Situation, Repair, Slippery Surface, Supervisor, Training, Traumatic Amputation, Unstable Position, Utility, Valve