Machinist Dies After Being Struck by Rotating Steel Bar Stock in Lathe in Washington State

Washington Case Report: 10WA001
Release Date: July 15, 2012

The following report is the product of our Cooperative State partner and is presented here in its original unedited form from the state. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the individual Cooperative State partner and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SUMMARY

On January 29, 2010, a 27-year-old machinist was fatally injured when he was struck by a piece of round stainless steel bar stock that he was machining in a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe. According to the general manager, the victim was machining washers from the round bar stock for a gill net reel frame. He had placed a 6 foot piece of the bar stock into HAAS TL-3W model lathe. Approximately 3 feet of the steel bar stock extended past the spindle and out of the lathe and was unsupported. As the victim was machining the round bar stock, the 3 foot unsupported portion extending through the spindle bent to nearly an 80 degree angle. The general manager speculates that the victim heard the noise generated by the rapidly rotating round bar stock and went to investigate the source. As the victim approached the source of the noise coming from the back of the machine, he was struck by the bent piece of round bar stock. The general manager and a contractor heard a crash sound in the vicinity of the lathe and upon responding, found the victim unconscious.

Machinist Dies After Being Struck by Rotating Steel Bar Stock in Lathe in Washington State [PDF 1.92 MB]