Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Pratt & Whitney, 8801 Macon Road, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31908
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was removing debris from a machine while waiting on the machine's cooling process to be completed. Due to a software error, the interlock system failed, allowing the machine's die to move and contact the employee's right thumb, which suffered an open fracture. The thump tip had to be medically amputated.
An employee was reassembling a tool that consisted of a tube, an inner cylinder, and a cap that is used for engine assembly. The inner cylinder became wedged on the outer cylinder and while pushing down on the inner cylinder with the cap, it descended and caught the employee's right middle finger between the cap and the outer cylinder. This resulted in a partial amputation and fracture to the finger.
Two maintenance employees were disconnecting utility lines to remove a large oven. The injured employee was lying on his right side applying a valve lock device beneath the oven when his coworker cut the compressed air line, releasing the residual air pressure and allowing the door to glide down and pin the employee to the floor. The employee was hospitalized with rib compression fractures.
The employee was replacing an O-ring that sits on top of a hydraulic oil accumulator tank. The O-ring seals the accumulator tank and the oil manifold to the central cylinder, which had been removed for repair. The employee used a hydraulic jack to raise the oil manifold approximately 1 inch to allow for installation of the O-rings and the central cylinder. The jack slid from its position and the manifold dropped back to its normal resting position, striking and pinching the employee's right thumb. The employee sustained a fracture and open laceration to the thumb, near the knuckle joint.
An employee was installing test equipment on an engine and climbed a 6-step ladder to remove the electrical connectors. As the employee was reaching to disconnect the electrical connector, the ladder pushed outward from underneath the employee. The employee then fell 5 feet from the top step and suffered a contusion, concussion, and chest abrasion.
An employee was sharpening peeler blades when their shirt was caught in the grinding wheel. The employee sustained tendon damage and a crushed right hand.
An employee was preparing to cut lumber on a panel saw when the clamp engaged and caught the employee's left middle finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 336412)
An employee was washing an aircraft from a scissor lift when they fell to the floor. The employee sustained a back injury and lacerations to their head and neck.
An employee was troubleshooting a garage door. The door was in its closed position, but still had about an inch of travel when the manual release was triggered. Their right ring finger pad (distal phalanx) was pinched between a belt and pulley. The employee required medical amputation of the finger pad without loss of bone.
An employee was running a high-pressure water cabinet waterblast unit. When the employee released the wand, it propelled itself out of the blast cabinet. The wand whipped around and the high-pressure water stream lacerated the employee's upper right arm.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.