The paunch auger, located in the paunch room, was inadequately guarded. The guarding provided did not prevent entry of hands or fingers into the paunch auger's rotating flighting. At the time of the inspection a second guard was also installed on the paunch auger. The inner guard did not prevent entry of hands or fingers into the paunch auger's rotating flighting. A rotating auger is used in respondent's paunch room operation to process inedible cattle paunch material.
Stomachs enter the paunch room from the right on hooks attached to a moving overhead chain.
Two operators work in this room. An operator cuts open the stomach, allowing the paunch material to drop onto the hopper. At the bottom of the hopper is a 12-inch cylindrical auger. The material enters the auger and is transferred down a chute into a blow tank in the basement. The hopper table is inclined to allow the paunch material to flow toward the auger.