Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Behlen Manufacturing Company, 4025 E 23rd, COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA 68602
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was operating a (smaller) press brake machine. She placed her finger between the outside of the part and bottom outside face of the die (not in point of operation). While holding the part, she activated the press to finish the bend. The part moved downward and pinched the tip of her finger. This caused a non-bone amputation of the fingertip.
AmputationFingertip(s)Brake presses
More severe injuries at Behlen Manufacturing Company
An employee was welding on a structural support beam. An adjacent beam was being prepped for work and was situated upright against two floor-mounted saw horses. The adjacent beam fell and struck the employee, resulting in five broken vertebrae, including the L1 and L2 vertebrae; broken ribs; a brain contusion; and a laceration to the back of head.
An employee was operating a forklift to transport a die. The transport shackle shifted, pinching the employee's finger between the shackle and the edge of the die. They sustained a left index finger amputation at the first joint.
An employee was loading angle iron onto a trough which was attached to an overhead crane. The trough became disconnected from the overhead crane and it fell along with the angle iron, striking the employee. She sustained fractures to the tibia, six ribs, and multiple vertebrae.
An employee was operating a brake press to bend a long narrow part that required multiple bends. During the last bend, the bottom of the part popped out and he attempted to grab the part to keep it from falling. His finger was pinched between the part and an exterior holding arm, resulting in an amputation of the end of his finger.
An employee was sharpening peeler blades when their shirt was caught in the grinding wheel. The employee sustained tendon damage and a crushed right hand.
An employee was preparing to cut lumber on a panel saw when the clamp engaged and caught the employee's left middle finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 332311)
An employee was cutting a piece of metal rod with a metal cutting machine. His right middle finger became caught between the rod and the machine's table. The employee's fingertip was partially amputated.
Two maintenance employees were dismantling a machine part (steel cylindrical rollers) on the ground. After unbolting a portion, part of the assembly fell approximately 6 inches onto one employee's left little finger. The employee was hospitalized and about 3/4" of their little finger above the top joint was surgically amputated.
An employee was moving and handling cardboard boxes when he sustained a laceration to his left ring finger from a box. The laceration became infected and required hospitalization and surgery.
An employee was positioning a piece of metal trim for a test bend in a single-fold bend machine. Their right middle fingertip was pinched by a clamp on the machine, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was operating a double folding machine and positioning a piece of metal trim in the folding clamps for a test bend. The machine activated and the crank (lower control arm that bends the trim) came up and cut through the employee s glove, amputating their right middle fingertip.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.