Ignition of clothing from controlled heat source · Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Sidney Sugars, Inc., 35140 County Road 125, SIDNEY, MONTANA 59270
on — Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns, affecting the multiple trunk locations.
Final narrative
An employee was cutting a 45 degree elbow on a 10 inch pipe with an oxyacetylene torch while working on an elevated platform about four feet above the ground. A hot metal flash back occurred and the employee received second degree burns from his chest to the waist and third degree burns on the lower left side of his abdomen. The employee was wearing a harness and PPE at the time of the incident.
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 was welding metal parts. The employee turned to the left and their work uniform came in contact with the location on the part that had just been welded. The employee's uniform ignited, causing burns to their shoulder and back.
An employee was welding steel dump ramp slides. He leaned over and a previous weld caught his hoodie on fire. The employee sustained burns on his left side from the armpit to the waistline.
An employee was using a fiber wheel to cut a 55-gallon drum to make a trash can. As they were cutting, sparks flew into the barrel and fire came out of a hole on the barrel, catching the employee's shirt on fire. The employee sustained burns to their abdomen and chest, requiring hospitalization.
An employee was removing tubing caps and cleaning tubing ends with solvent. Their flame-resistant pants became soaked with the cleaning solvent and were ignited by a propane torch used for removing tubing caps. The employee was hospitalized with burns to their legs.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 311311)
An employee was welding pipe in a pan vessel. While the employee was repositioning, a component inside the vessel shifted. The employee was wedged between the component and the vessel and suffered two broken back vertebrae. He was hospitalized.
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 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.