Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Report: Sixteen-Year-Old Produce-Market Worker Dies From Crushing Injuries After Being Caught in a Vertical Downstroke Baler in New York

摘要

A 16-year-old male produce-market worker (the victim) died from crushing injuries after being caught in the vertical downstroke baling machine that he was operating. The victim, working alone in the basement of a small produce market, was crushing cardboard boxes when at some point in the compacting process he was caught by the machine's hydraulic ram. The victim was discovered by an exterminator spraying the basement, who notified the store manager to call police and emergency medical services (EMS). Subsequent examination by investigators revealed that the safety interlock had been bypassed, allowing the machine to operate with the loading door in the open position. The victim may have reached into the baling chamber during a compression cycle to adjust a tie wire or a liner box and was caught by the ram platen. NIOSH investigators gave recommendations to help prevent similar incidents.