Caught in running equipment or machinery, n.e.c. · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at TENNECO, INC., 1601 HIGHWAY 49B NORTH, PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS 72450
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee amputated the left pinky finger above the first knuckle in a bushing machine.
AmputationFinger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c.Metal, woodworking, and special material machinery, unspecified
A maintenance employee was conducting repairs on the conveyor belt of an automatic palletizer. The employee's shirt fell in front of a sensor causing the equipment to energize. The employee's right middle finger was caught by chains within the conveyor belt motor resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was performing an air check on an articulated dump truck when their finger was pinched in the clamping mechanism on the lift assist. The employee's right middle finger was amputated above the distal interphalangeal joint.
An employee was responding to a work order relating to a machine that was not cooling when the lid of the machine lowered onto the employee's thumb. They sustained a left thumb fracture and partial amputation that required hospitalization.
An employee had just replaced a broken sprocket and put in a new chain on a high-volume oil conveyor. The chain seized up. As he tried to free it, it took off and his left index finger was caught between the chain and the sprocket. The fingertip was amputated halfway up the nail.
Employees were assembling and testing a butterfly valve unit and actuator combo. When the unit was function tested with air, the valve gate closed on an employee's left thumb resulting in a fracture and laceration.
An employee was doing a daily inspection of the sifter screen on a mixer when the mixer line activated. The armature for the screen struck the employee's right wrist. Their wrist was cut and their hand was fractured.
An employee was doing a dry run during the setup of an ice cream machine. The machine indexed and the filler head amputated the employee's left middle finger above the last knuckle.
An employee was on a 3-foot ladder guiding cable onto a spool during installation on an overhead door. As the control box was jogged, the employee's hand was caught between the cable and spool, resulting in a wrist and hand fracture.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 336399)
An employee was making repairs to a milling machine located in the mold shop. While using a screwdriver to make adjustments, the machine energized and struck the employee. The employee's right arm was fractured.
An employee was breaking down dunnage to prepare totes and trays to go through a tote washer. A tow motor driver asked the employee to move a cart that was in the way so the tow motor could remove a gaylord. The employee moved the cart and then stepped away from the tow motor. As the employee moved to an area between carts, his right foot got caught by a cart, causing him to twist and fall on top of a cart, landing on the left flank of his torso. The employee suffered a hemorrhage on his left flank.
Three employees were installing a transfer rail in a press. There were two employees holding the rail and the injured employee was at the end of the rail guiding the rail into the bracket. The task was done manually with no mechanical equipment. The employee had their finger at the end of the rail and went to make sure the rail was lined up while the other two employees pushed it into the bracket, causing their finger to become pinched between the rail and bracket. The employee's middle fingertip was amputated. Protective gloves were worn at the time of the incident.
An employee was walking across the dock, interacting with forklift drivers on what was being loaded. A forklift drove forward with a tall load on the forks. The employee was struck by the load (running board/rocker panel rack) on the forklift. The employee sustained several contusions and an injury to their right Achilles tendon that 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.