Industrial mixing machines can be dangerous and injuries and deaths related to mixing machine accidents are sadly not uncommon. In their investigation, OSHA inspectors will have to determine if the machine was installed in compliance with OSHA safety measures and if the worker was sufficiently protected from potential exposure to the machine hazards. The following factors are usually taken into consideration when evaluating employee exposure to industrial mixers:
- Point of operation: was the employee performing his task from a safe location?
- Was the employee adequately protected from exposure to running nip points? Nip points or pinch points are specific dangers that occur when rotating parts move toward each others
- Was the employee located at a safe distance from the rotating parts?
To determine the above, investigators will have to understand how the mixer was functioning and find out if the agitators were visible and if the machine could accidentally be switched on. They will have to determine if the worker was safely performing the operations. How was he adding the ingredients? how was he scrapping the bowl or how was he checking the consistency of the food being mixed? Was the worker wearing jewelry or clothing that might have gotten caught in the mixer? Was he using tools that could have fallen in the mixer? What type of safeguarding devices were installed? Was the working area safe? Where they any slipping or tripping hazards?
If there is employee exposure, the employers is legally obligated to install a barrier guard or a safeguarding device to protect the exposed workers. If this installation is not possible, safeguarding by maintaining a safe distance may be used.
It will also have to be determined if the mixer was proprely designed by incorporating a deadman or kill switch which cuts power to the mixer if a worker comes in contact with its moving parts. If the mixer did have these devices it will have to be determined whether they were proprely maintained or bypassed by the employer. Failure to incorporate those safety devices could result in a product liability action based on failure to proprely design the mixer.
Unexpected activation of the machine during maintenance is also a common cause of accidents related to industrial mixers.
Picture: courtesy of Wikipedia