Hutchinson Fertilizer LLC

An employee was preparing a tank car for loading while chipping away solidified product in the manway opening of the tank car. A pressure noise within the tank car startled the employee, causing him to stumble backward and fall approximately 10 feet over the guard railing at the chemical loading rack to the ground. The employee suffered fractured vertebrae, a fractured right wrist and ankle, and a dislocated jaw.

An employee was installing an electrical tray remover from a ladder. As he was descending, his missed a step and fell 6-7 feet to the floor. The employee suffered a head injury.

Two employees were installing spray foam insulation in the attic of a new residential construction. The injured employee fell 8 feet from an A-frame ladder to the floor. The employee suffered lacerations, abrasions, and a head injury.

An employee was on a raised platform attaching wires to electrical boxes. The employee fell approximately 8 feet to the floor below and struck an exit sign on the way down, resulting in an injury to his face.

An employee was in a forklift man basket fixing a garage door opener when they fell approximately 8 feet to the concrete ground below. The employee suffered head and back injuries as well as kidney bruising.

A shipping/receiving operator was working on a loading rack, loading a railcar. A 2-inch discharge cap failed and released pressure along with sulfuric acid from the railcar. The acid sprayed onto the employee, who suffered burns to the chest and the lower facial area. The employee was hospitalized.

An employee was on the ground unloading fertilizer when he tripped and fell over a cinder block that was on the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured left hip.

An employee was performing maintenance on a pump. They replaced the pump and activated the pump motor for testing. The 7.5 HP mix tank pump impeller caught the employee's shoelace, causing their leg to get pulled against the pump housing. The employee sustained a compound fracture of the lower left leg.

On August 12, 2024, at approximately 3:20 AM, employee 1 opened the dome lid of a sulfur railcar that released hydrogen sulfide gas pressure that had built up inside the car during transportation. Employee 1 became overwhelmed by the gas and fell to the ground. Employee 2 went over to check on employee 1, when they were also overcome by the gas. Employee 2 was hospitalized for observation and employee 1 was hospitalized for inhalation injuries from the hydrogen sulfide gas.

An employee was shocked while working on a breaker at the motor control center, suffering an electrical burn to the left hand, left wrist, left side of the neck, 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.