Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Natural Food Works Group LLC, 4220 Carson St., DENVER, COLORADO 80239
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was running a food packaging machine when it jammed with packaging material. When the employee went to clear the machine, her right middle finger was pinched and partially amputated by the heat sealing jaws. The machine was guarded at the time.
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 311991)
An employee was painting a wall. They fell down three steps and landed on a plastic mop bucket and the floor. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to their right arm and right hip, and required surgery.
An employee was using an electric jack to load a pallet onto a truck when he was struck from behind by a forklift, resulting in a laceration to his right leg.
An employee was performing maintenance on a tray packer. They put a piece of cardboard down onto the belt of the tray packer and stood on the belt. The belt started, causing the employee to lose balance and fall approximately 2 feet. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured ankle and required surgery.
An employee was adding cilantro to the dicing machine when it became jammed. While clearing the jam, the blade amputated approximately 1/2" to 3/4" of his right middle finger.
An employee was cleaning and sanitizing a mixer when the machine was activated. The employee's hand was caught in the machine and he sustained the amputation of his right hand. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was delivering materials. He was doing his pre-delivery inspection on the roof of the jobsite (a warehouse) when he fell through a plexiglass skylight. He landed on his feet on the concrete floor 14 feet below. The employee sustained fractures to his spine, left ulnar/radius, and right heel. The employee required surgery.
An employee was removing packaging from a roll of printing substrate. The blade of their utility knife got stuck. The employee used both hands to free the knife and the blade partially amputated their left little fingertip.
A concrete batch plant operator was assisting with clearing spoil piles using a skid steer. The skid steer backed into a stationary screen plant. The employee's left little finger was crushed between the controls of the skid steer and the screen plant, resulting in a fracture and laceration. The employee's finger was surgically amputated.
An employee was standing on an extension ladder, using a torquing tool to remove bolts that secured blades to a rotor. When the torquing tool activated, its reaction arm came around and pinched the employee's right middle finger against a lifting eye. His fingertip was amputated.