Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Wastequip Manufacturing Co. LLC, 1079 State Route 20, NEW LEBANON, NEW YORK 12125
on — Puncture wounds, except gunshot wounds, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was tack-welding a small part onto a larger assembly when a weld wire bounced and punctured his left index finger, requiring hospitalization.
An employee was tossing a damaged toilet into a compactor. The toilet bounced off the compactor and lacerated the employee's right wrist, cutting an artery and tendon.
An employee was operating a hydraulic jack to bend a frame when the jack came loose and struck the employee. They were hospitalized for a spleen injury.
A truck had been towed into the shop with a flat tire and a blown airbag. An employee checked the tire for damage and was airing the tire. The employee was installing the valve core when the bead slipped off the rim. Air escaped, and the aluminum wheel struck the employee's head and face. The employee became unresponsive and was bleeding.
On December 14, 2023, at 8:40 p.m., three employees were inspecting milling machines for startup. A few of the sleeves on the mill drum needed to be changed out. The injured employee was trying to input a sleeve on the mill drum using a hammer. The hammer hit the edge of the drum, which caused a metal piece to splinter off and strike the employee's cheek just below the left eye. The metal splinter embedded in the back of their eye socket, resulting in pain, swelling, and bleeding that required hospitalization.
An employee was pushing a line of carts into a vestibule when the door cable snapped and struck his right ankle. The employee suffered a fracture that required surgery and hospitalization.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 332999)
An employee was pulling a steel parts handcart when its wheels caught on something and locked up. The cart fell backward. The cart handle struck the middle of the employee's right foot, breaking bones. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
An employee was cutting wood with a circular saw. The saw kicked back, and its blade cut three fingers on the employee's right hand, resulting in an amputation.
Two employees were running a CNC folder machine. The injured employee went to adjust the metal and the machine came down, crushing her forearms. Her left arm was fractured and both arms required stitches.
An employee was operating a battery-powered broom to clean demolition debris off the top of the outermost bridge girder. The girder was approximately 11 feet above the demolition scaffold below. The employee fell approximately 8 feet to wind bracing below. The employee was hospitalized with a pelvis/tailbone fracture. Fall protection was in place at the time.
An employee slipped while descending in a stairwell, fell, and suffered multiple contusions/bruises to the head, neck, shoulders, knees, and back. She was hospitalized.
An employee was directing trucks as they entered and left a highway work zone. A vehicle struck them, resulting in multiple fractures and other injuries. The employee was hospitalized.