Ergon Biofuels ,LLC

An employee connected a steam line to a hose to clean equipment when the fitting broke loose. They were struck by steam in the left inner thigh, resulting in burns that required hospitalization.

An employee was straining hot water from a pot of rice when the water splashed onto them, resulting in burns to their chest, arms, shoulder, and back.

An employee was making tea when she noticed tea grinds were collecting on the side and water was no longer dripping through the funnel. The employee was checking the funnel when boiling water and tea grinds spilled onto the left side of her body. The employee sustained burns to her neck, back, and arm.

An employee had turned off the ball valve on a waterpipe system and was removing the plug when the coupling system attached to the strainer came apart. Hot water sprayed on his arm and back, resulting in first- and second-degree burns that required surgery.

An employee was using a shovel to remove waste vermiculite from molten zinc. The metal had been placed in a bin and partially hardened. The employee broke through the partially hardened metal; still-molten metal flowed to the employee's steel-toed right boot and entered through the cloth boot tongue. The employee suffered a third-degree burn to the right foot and was hospitalized.

An employee was preparing an oven for charging and cracked the seal of the jump lid to release pressure. Flames unexpectedly released from the oven and burned the employee's right ring and little fingers. The employee sustained second-degree burns.

An employee was starting to work on the change of a conveyor belt and experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion due to high temperatures. The employee was hospitalized with heat exhaustion and dehydration.

An employee had been working to fill lump charcoal into 40-pound bags when the crusher jammed. He was standing at the filling station and went to clear the machine. The employee's gloved right hand was pulled into a belt and pulley, causing the amputation of his little finger and a severe laceration to his ring finger. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery. The machine was guarded and locked out/tagged out at the time.

An employee was uncoupling a hose from an air compressor. The pressurized hose struck the employee's left side, fracturing a rib and lacerating their kidney and spleen.

An employee was troubleshooting an electrical problem and became ill. The employee was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

An employee was checking a pole-type transformer tank for leaks. A hydraulic clamping device was lowered onto his right thumb and crushed it against the sharp edge of the bottom of the tank. He suffered a partial transphalangeal amputation to the thumb.

The injured employee was standing behind a table. She jumped out to scare another employee, but tripped and fell on the tile floor, injuring her right ankle/foot. She was hospitalized with a dislocated ankle that required surgery.

An employee was going into a trailer to mark product for shipment and the trailer pulled away from the dock. The employee fell out of the trailer, contacted the dock plate, and then fell to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a punctured lung, fractured ribs, and contusions.

An employee was hooking up bundled tie-downs with a chain. While he was holding a hook, the other hook was unlocked. This caused the employee's hook to slide down and pinch his right index finger between the chain and the shackle. He suffered an amputation to the fingertip (without bone loss), as well as an open fracture.

An employee was operating a gas tugger to lift metal sheeting. His left hand was pulled into the pulley, which crushed his left thumb, resulting in avulsions and other tissue damage. He was hospitalized and required surgery.