Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at ARKOTEX, INC., 12575 Pioneer Lane, GENTRY, ARKANSAS 72734
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was cleaning a patch kit machine after use. The employee was using an air wand to blow sand from around the machine. There was a clump of sand that he couldn't get out with the air pressure so he attempted to remove the clump of sand with his hand. At that point, the machine cycled and amputated his left index finger. The machine was guarded at the time.
AmputationFinger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c.Special process machinery, n.e.c.
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 238330)
An employee was mixing self-leveling cement when his hand was caught in a mixer. He suffered a partial amputation to his left middle finger, as well as a laceration to his buttocks.
An employee was working to pull open the stuck door of a concrete slurry container. The door sprang open and struck the employee in the lower jaw, causing a laceration and fracture to the jaw.
An electric crew was unloading a lighting instrument rack (approximately 400-500 pounds) from a box truck when one of the wheels rolled off the lift gate and the rack tipped over, falling onto the injured employee's right leg. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured tibia and required surgery.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.