Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Gator Joist, 7135 Highway 64 East, POTTSVILLE, ARKANSAS 72858
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was preparing to change a table saw's blade. Before doing so, he cut another piece of wood. As he finished cutting the board, the lumber shifted and his left hand was caught in the blade, amputating the last three fingertips on his left hand. The saw's automatic feed guard was removed at the time of the incident.
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 321214)
An employee was spreading out wood on the live feed table. As he was operating the automatic feed saw, and the wood went in crooked and he went to straighten it. His left middle fingertip was crushed between the wood and the computer monitor. The employee's fingertip was amputated without loss of bone.
An employee was working on a conveyor belt in the chipper room that was not functioning. While inspecting the uncovered gearbox, the conveyor system started. The employee sustained an amputation to their right little finger. The conveyor system was not locked out at the time.
An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.
An employee was placing trusses on conveyor rollers to be stacked. The rollers could not roll the trusses, so the employee pulled the trusses onto the rollers. One of the spinning rollers caught their hand, resulting in three fingertip amputations.
An employee reached down to pick up a box next to a roller conveyor. His gloved left hand was caught in the chain and pulled into the sprocket. Three fingers were injured: the middle and index fingers were cut to the bone, and the ring finger was amputated at the nail.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.