Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at LA Darling Company, 1401 Hwy 49B North, PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS 72450
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
In the shelf line area, an employee was reaching over a conveyor belt to inspect the welded brackets on a piece of thin sheet metal when her hair got caught in the conveyor belt. The employee used her left hand to try to pull herself free when her left hand got caught in the conveyor belt resulting in amputation of the left pinky fingertip.
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 337215)
On August 13, 2025, an employee was feeding wire through a junction box to feed a 120-volt circuit near a 480-volt bus duct. The bus duct suddenly combusted, and the employee suffered burns to his left hand and upper body. He was hospitalized.
An employee was operating a brake press and making the final bend on a steel part. Her right middle finger got caught between the part and the top punch as it bent the part upward. The employee sustained a crush injury resulting in amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was feeding scrap metal into a chipper when his right hand was squeezed against a metal component of the machine. He suffered an amputation to the right index finger at the second joint.
On June 18, 2025, an employee working as a millwork installer was cutting shims using a circular saw. The saw hit a knot in the wood and jumped, cutting the palm of the employee's left hand and causing partial amputations to three fingers. The employee was hospitalized.
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.