Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Circle Graphics, Inc., 120 9th Ave, LONGMONT, COLORADO 80501
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
A temporary employee suffered a partial amputation of the distal phalanx (fingertip bone) on her right hand. The employee's finger was caught between the metal spindle of a fabric roller and the "pay-out cradle" when she was loading an 87 pound canvas roll into the cutting machine. The cause of the amputation was not related to the fabric cutting mechanism. The amputation was a result of her finger being pinched between the end of the fabric spindle that extends through the shaft of the fabric roll and the cradle which holds that spindle in place.
An employee was removing packaging from a roll of printing substrate. The blade of their utility knife got stuck. The employee used both hands to free the knife and the blade partially amputated their left little fingertip.
An employee was operating a forklift and unloading a truck. After the truck was unloaded, the employee got off the forklift and proceeded to adjust the dock plate with a hook tool. The dock plate slipped and the employee went to adjust the plate with their hand when their left middle finger got caught. Their finger was amputated above the first joint.
An employee was rotating a carbide granulator blade when his finger was caught between the blade and a stationary part of the machine. The employee's right middle finger was partially amputated and they suffered an avulsion to the right ring fingertip.
An employee was using a CNC metal lathe machine in manual mode to check that the thread blocking tool made contact with the jaws. As the employee was manually spinning the spindle, his index fingertip was crushed between the spindle's jaws and the grooving insert, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
During a material handling operation, an employee's fingertip was caught under an air conditioning unit as the unit was lowered onto a cart. The employee's fingertip was amputated.
An employee was removing a bolt from a tractor hub when their right index finger was caught between the hub and the frame. The employee's fingertip was crushed and the employee was hospitalized.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 323113)
An employee was operating a pad printer. The employee's finger was caught in the printer and they suffered a fingertip amputation. The part of the printer that caught the employee's finger was unguarded at the time.
An employee was stepping down from a rolling safety ladder that was locked in place when he fell and his head struck the floor, resulting in a brain bleed that required hospitalization.
An employee was clearing a piece of scrap from a carpet cutting machine when the blade came down and amputated the tip of his right thumb. A guard was in place at the time.
An employee was working on a printing machine when their hand became caught in the machine. The employee sustained a fractured metacarpal, torn tendons, and a dislocated wrist.
An employee was tearing down equipment. She attempted to catch a clamshell when her hand was caught between the clamshell and the lift gate of a box truck. The employee sustained a broken hand and a cut on the forehead.
An employee was delivering materials. He was doing his pre-delivery inspection on the roof of the jobsite (a warehouse) when he fell through a plexiglass skylight. He landed on his feet on the concrete floor 14 feet below. The employee sustained fractures to his spine, left ulnar/radius, and right heel. The employee required surgery.
An employee was removing packaging from a roll of printing substrate. The blade of their utility knife got stuck. The employee used both hands to free the knife and the blade partially amputated their left little fingertip.
A concrete batch plant operator was assisting with clearing spoil piles using a skid steer. The skid steer backed into a stationary screen plant. The employee's left little finger was crushed between the controls of the skid steer and the screen plant, resulting in a fracture and laceration. The employee's finger was surgically amputated.
An employee was standing on an extension ladder, using a torquing tool to remove bolts that secured blades to a rotor. When the torquing tool activated, its reaction arm came around and pinched the employee's right middle finger against a lifting eye. His fingertip was amputated.