Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Cuts, lacerations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Kraft-Heinz Company, 4600 WACO ROAD, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 65202
on — Cuts, lacerations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
A maintenance employee was searching for a jam on an auger when the auger lacerated/amputated the employee's right index fingertip.
HospitalizedFingertip(s)Food and beverage processing machinery-specialized, n.e.c.
On March 28, 2023, an employee was working as an arranger on a meat production line, removing bacon from the conveyor belt and arranging it on a table for packaging. The employee was taking bacon off the belt when their left middle finger was pinched in an opening between the transition plate and the conveyor belt, resulting in an amputation just above the knuckle. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was working as a chill cell helper to move the trays of meat on the rail system to and from different coolers. The employee was moving a 1500 lb. rack of meat along the overhead rail system. When the employee came to a switch (interchange), the rack fell from the overhead rail system and struck the employee who fell to the concrete ground. The employee sustained fractures to the back, pelvis and sternum.
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 311999)
An employee was reaching for a piece of angle iron when it fell onto his hand, which was on a table to support him as he reached for the overhead rack. He suffered a broken finger and was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was working to open the liftgate on the back of a delivery truck. His left middle finger was pinched between the gate and its frame, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
An employee was readjusting a safety hook to remove hardware from gang forms when his feet slipped. He fell to the ground, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist.
An employee was on a step ladder in a store aisle, making room on shelving for merchandise. She fell from the step ladder to the floor, suffering two fractures in her left leg. She was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was closing the side cargo door to a company van. The tip of his finger got caught between the door and the door jamb, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee lost his footing while climbing an inclined ladder. He stumbled down one step and was able to stabilize himself by holding the railing and twisting his body, but he suffered an internal abdominal injury and was hospitalized.