Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc., 2020 Hytrol Drive, JONESBORO, ARKANSAS 72401
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee and a coworker were operating a saw with dual palm buttons. The employee was on the left side holding a 2 x 4 wooden board to be cut toward the back stop on the machine. The coworker was on the right side and actuated the palm buttons while the employee's left thumb was in the point of operation. When the blade came up, it amputated approximately 1/4" of the employee's left thumb tip. The saw was unguarded at the time.
On November 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., two employees were moving a metal staging pallet that was located in an automation cell. The injured employee slipped and their left middle finger was crushed between the pallet and metal frame of the machine, resulting in an amputation to the finger padding.
On October 22, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m., an employee was forming a stand leg on a standard brake press. As they were readjusting the part, the tip of their right thumb was caught in the brake press, resulting in a partial amputation. The incident occurred during training.
An employee was working in the power assembly area where chains are placed onto conveyors. As the employee went to retrieve a guardrail to put on a conveyor, they tripped over a spool of chain on floor and fell, sustaining a left femur fracture.
An employee was cooling off at a receiving dock after welding. He leaned on the plastic safety chain guarding the door and fell 5 feet 10 inches to the concrete surface below. He suffered a broken right leg and was hospitalized.
An employee was forming a part on a brake press machine when the employee's finger was pinched between the part and the die, resulting in a right index fingertip amputation and a broken right index finger.
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 333922)
An installation technician for a wind turbine lift was using a chain hoist to move materials up a tower. The chain storage unit overflowed; the chain spilled and fell about 40-50 feet down the tower. It struck the injured employee in the face, causing fractures to their nose and cheekbones.
On November 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., two employees were moving a metal staging pallet that was located in an automation cell. The injured employee slipped and their left middle finger was crushed between the pallet and metal frame of the machine, resulting in an amputation to the finger padding.
On October 22, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m., an employee was forming a stand leg on a standard brake press. As they were readjusting the part, the tip of their right thumb was caught in the brake press, resulting in a partial amputation. The incident occurred during training.
An employee was cleaning welding debris from a steel part that was in a fixture. The part moved, cut through the employee's cut-resistant glove, and amputated their right middle fingertip.
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.