Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Tech Ord, 47600 180th Street, CLEAR LAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA 57226
on — Puncture wounds, except gunshot wounds, affecting the hand(s) and arm(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was running a test procedure on an explosive device when it detonated, sending shrapnel into the employee's right hand and arm.
HospitalizedHand(s) and arm(s), unspecifiedExplosive devices
An employee was sitting in the cab of the truck while waste oxidizer was being offloaded. The waste reacted with the receiving tank and an explosion occurred in the tank. Fire traveled through the hose to the tanker truck, causing it to explode. The employee jumped from the burning truck and was hospitalized with burns to his face, chest, and arms.
An employee was installing piping and valves for fire protection systems in the vicinity of an electrical meter outside of a new warehouse. The meter exploded, causing burns to the employee's face and arms.
An employee was pouring molten aluminum into a drain pot. The aluminum touched moisture at the bottom of the drain pot and an explosion occurred. The employee sustained burns to their face, hands, and legs.
An employee was operating an oxygen-deficient oven that required manual ignition to make charcoal from wood. As the oven was opened, oxygen was introduced to the environment, resulting in an explosion. The employee sustained head trauma as well as fractures to the arms and legs.
An employee was setting up the electrical parts for a fireworks display. They were inserting an e-match when it generated friction with something else. A 3-inch firework shell ignited, injuring the employee's hand and head.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 325920)
An employee was working on a burner unit and turning the controls for a fan motor on an incinerator unit when incendiary test material ignited, causing second-degree burns to his head, back, and left arm requiring hospitalization.
An employee was making a fine adjustment after a tooling change on a pyrotechnic pellet press when the machine interface was actuated. The bottom piston on the press crushed his left hand, resulting in fractures to his index, middle, and ring fingers with tendon damage to the middle finger. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
An employee was testing a 40mm single-shot tactical launcher with the launcher mounted on her right shoulder and the barrel stabilized with her left hand. After the trigger was pulled, the 40mm barrel tore apart radially and she sustained injuries to her left extremity including the bicep, forearm, index finger, middle finger, and thumb.
An employee was loading parts into a press machine when the pneumatic/electrical 2" steel door closed on his hand, crushing it. The employee sustained the amputation of the whole hand and was hospitalized.
An employee was moving a tensile strength test device with a dolly. The device fell from the dolly onto the employee's right leg, causing a compound fracture.
An employee was walking past a crossover conveyor when a ramp came down and hit them in the back. The employee sustained a broken back vertebra, as well as a concussion, and was hospitalized.
An employee was using a hook tool to pull a pallet onto the lift gate of a tractor trailer. The hook detached from the underside of the pallet, causing the employee to fall backward off the lift gate. The employee landed on the concrete parking lot about 5 feet below, suffering fractures to the skull and two thoracic vertebrae.
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.