Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Reefer Systems, Inc, 2700 E 4th Ave, HUTCHINSON, KANSAS 67504
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was attempting to repair a carrier truck. When checking the slippage on the alternator belt, the system started and pulled the employee's right thumb through the pulley resulting in amputation of the right thumb tip at the hospital.
Two employees were repairing the hydraulic engagement pins on a rented front-end wheel loader. The machine controls were activated to move the attachment pins and an employee's finger was caught between the pins and the bushings. Their right index finger was partially amputated.
An employee was cleaning the conveyor on a piece of equipment when they slipped and their right hand was pulled into the chain sprocket. The employee's fifth fingertip was amputated.
An employee was throwing blankets onto a blanket folding and stacking machine. A blanket got stuck in the machine and she attempted to remove it when the machine contacted her right little finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 811111)
An employee was repairing the suspension of a semi-trailer. He was installing an air bag to the suspension when his left ring finger was crushed between the air bag and the suspension mounting beam. The employee was hospitalized.
A mechanic had just finished a repair on a straight truck with a flatbed , which had been lifted using a bottle jack. As the employee was about to remove the jack, it failed. The truck shifted forward, dropped down, and struck the employee's chest. He suffered broken ribs and a broken shoulder.
An employee was performing diagnostic work on a vehicle engine. As the employee was leaning over the front of the vehicle, the engine was activated. A fuel leak had produced fumes around the engine, and the ignition spark ignited them. The employee suffered second-degree burns to both hands, both biceps, and the upper chest area.
An employee was hot patching a tire, which involves lighting a flammable liquid on fire to patch the tire. The flammable liquid contacted his arm, and he sustained burns to his arms and face.
An employee was working to remove a product blockage from a piece of equipment. The employee was struck by a metal bar near the deck of the pin mixer equipment and sustained blunt force trauma to the torso.
An employee was moving a rack onto a lower conveyor in the south heat treat area when their finger got caught between the part tray and the rollers, resulting in a fingertip fracture and amputation.
An employee was climbing a ladder to get on top of the breakroom. The ladder slipped, causing him to fall to the ground. The employee sustained fractures to his upper back, left foot, and ankle.
Two employees were removing a circuit breaker. The injured employee was using wrenches in the removal process. One of the wrenches contacted an adjacent door, resulting in an arc flash. The employee suffered burns to their neck, face, and ear, as well as momentary vision loss due to the flash.
An employee bent over to pick up a rubber mat from the ground. When he grabbed the corner of the mat, a rattlesnake hidden under it bit his left middle finger near the first knuckle. He was hospitalized.