Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Tifton Aluminum Extrusions, Inc., 250 Southwell Blvd, TIFTON, GEORGIA 31794
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was replacing a gear on a strapping machine conveyor. Bundles (of aluminum) continued to be put on the strapping conveyor while the employee was installing the gear. When a bundle hit the photo eye, the conveyor belt engaged and amputated the employee's right index finger below the second knuckle. The machine was not locked/tagged out at the time.
An employee was trying to lay metal flat on a cooling table from a safety basket. The arm of a tail stretcher machine caught the employee's right leg and broke the thigh.
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 331319)
An employee measured aluminum material and began to make a cut on a saw. The blade of the saw got caught on an angle and the saw kicked back, amputating the employee's left index finger.
An employee was under a machine, threading aluminum foil through it. The machine's jog button was pressed while the employee's right middle finger was in the roller, and the roller's blade amputated the employee's fingertip.
An employee was helping a maintenance worker install the upper portion of a coil car back into place using a hoist. This part weighs about 1,000 pounds. While seating the upper section onto the mounting bolts, the employees were working to loosen a bolt. The injured employee s right hand was on an impact wrench and his other hand was on the nut. As it was loosening, the upper portion of the coil unit came loose and caught the injured employee s hand against the lower portion of the coil block. The injured employee sustained crushing injuries and an amputation to the middle finger of their left hand.
An employee was trying to lay metal flat on a cooling table from a safety basket. The arm of a tail stretcher machine caught the employee's right leg and broke the thigh.
An employee was setting up a manual kick press when it cycled and amputated the employee's left index fingertip in a pinch point. The pinch point was unguarded at the time.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.