Contact with hot objects or substances · Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at SIDNEY SUGARS, INC, 35140 COUNTY RD 125, SIDNEY, MONTANA 59270
on — Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns, affecting the multiple body parts, n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was in the process of preparing a coal fired boiler section to be dumped. The employee stopped the coal feed to the section in preparation and as he approached the front of the boiler, the boiler went positive. In this instance, the door to the section that was being prepared to dump, blew open and the employee was blasted with a fire discharge. The employee received multiple first, second, and third degree burns to the arms, legs, torso, and face.
An employee was working on a mud press when the filter leaf cloth seal leaked hot slurry. The mixture contacted the employee, causing second-degree burns to the lower back, abdomen, and buttocks.
At about 8:45 a.m. on October 8, 2022, an employee was clearing out a coal spreader when it crushed the employee's right index, middle, and ring fingers (without breaking bones).
An employee was sitting in an office chair. The chair collapsed, and the employee fell to the floor, resulting in a broken left hip. The employee was hospitalized, and surgery was required to repair the injury.
An employee was removing lag bolts from a man cover, waiting for the slurry tank to drain. When all but two bolts were removed, the access door opened up spilling liquid lime onto the employee. The employee sustained burns to both feet.
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 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.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 311313)
An employee was helping change out socks on hard thin juice filters, part of a beet sugar manufacturing operation. While the filter lid was being removed, juice started leaking down the side of the filter. This suggested that the juice was bypassing the seat on the main shutoff valve. While the main shutoff was being checked, the valve was opened and sprayed hot juice on the employee. The employee suffered burns to the left arm, the left ribcage area, the left side of the back, and the left side of the face. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was removing a beet elevating belt while mechanics were cutting a hole in the center of the belt to install the pulley point using an oscillating tool with a hook blade. The tool popped out of the belt and the tool struck the injured employee in the stomach, resulting in a laceration on the lower left abdomen.
An employee was troubleshooting the precoat/overflow tank when scalding liquid (juice) began to leak out of the tank and contacted the employee. The employee was hospitalized for burns.
An employee was clearing a jam in the bag sealer machine in the warehouse when his right thumb was caught in the belt and pulley, resulting in amputation of the thumb tip.
An employee was fixing an issue with seed cleaning equipment when he slipped on the ladder he was on. He went to catch himself and his hand went into a moving belt and pulley on the cleaner. The employee sustained the amputation of his right middle and index fingertips just below the fingernails.
An employee was riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to move a bison herd. He was riding up the side of a steep hill when the ATV struck a rock and rolled, ejecting the employee before rolling over him. The employee suffered broken vertebrae in his back that required hospitalization.
An employee was climbing in the spreader area to remove a pasta jam when his right little finger was cut by the rotary cut-off knife. The employee sustained a laceration and fracture, resulting in an amputation.
A smoke jumper parachuted out of a helicopter during a forest fire response, landed on steep rugged terrain, and suffered femur and rib fractures and a liver laceration. The employee was hospitalized.