Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Alliance Plastic Corp., 11265 Hwy 124 N., CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN 54729
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
On June 15, 2017, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a temporary employee suffered a partial left index fingertip amputation while clearing a jammed part on the cutter section of an extrusion line.
Two employees were repairing the hydraulic engagement pins on a rented front-end wheel loader. The machine controls were activated to move the attachment pins and an employee's finger was caught between the pins and the bushings. Their right index finger was partially amputated.
An employee was cleaning the conveyor on a piece of equipment when they slipped and their right hand was pulled into the chain sprocket. The employee's fifth fingertip was amputated.
An employee was throwing blankets onto a blanket folding and stacking machine. A blanket got stuck in the machine and she attempted to remove it when the machine contacted her right little finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 326121)
An employee was blowing out material in the blow-out booth when the silo magnet came down on his left hand, amputating the index and middle fingertips.
At the maintenance shop, an employee was drilling plastic parts using a drill press. The employee's left glove got caught in the drill, and half of her left ring finger and her left little fingertip were amputated.
A maintenance technician was servicing an extruder and removed the cam locking pin on a hot water/steam line to change a water hose. Hot water/steam sprayed out, striking the employee on the right forearm and the right side of their neck. The employee sustained burns to their neck, right forearm, and right leg.
An employee was entering an area while carrying a tray containing 20 pounds of product. A plastic curtain came into contact with the employee's shoulder; the employee suffered a herniated disc while dislodging the curtain.
An employee was working on a cutting line that utilized a machine to pull material through the line. The employee was turning a roller to feed material into the machine when their left hand was caught between the rollers, resulting in abrasions and a dislocated thumb. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery on the thumb.
The injured employee was assisting five other employees with bracing a wall panel that was being stood up. Another employee slipped on frost on the floor surface. The employees went to evacuate the area in anticipation of the wall panel falling over. The injured employee went to jump through a window opening within the wall panel and their lower half was crushed by the falling wall panel. The employee sustained a fractured pelvis.
An employee was using a vertical band saw to cut a thick piece of rubber material. While being cut, the material shifted, causing the employee s right hand to contact the moving blade. The employee's thumb was amputated below the knuckle. The employee was hospitalized, undergoing surgery.
A production sanitation employee was pre-rinsing an incline conveyor and noticed cheese stuck between the belt idler. The employee went to remove the cheese and their glove got caught and pulled their left forearm into the conveyor. The employee's arm was fractured. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.
An employee was on a ladder, taking measurements for a new gutter installation. The ladder slipped out from under him and both he and the ladder fell to the ground. He was hospitalized with seven broken ribs and a broken clavicle.
An employee was unloading a truck for a delivery job. While moving boxes in the truck, the employee tripped over a pallet and fell out of the truck to the ground, resulting in four broken ribs.