Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Quad Graphics, Inc., 555 S. 108th Street, WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN 53214
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was attempting to clear a jam on a press machine when his right index fingertip was caught and amputated between the machine's stacker assembly and the back of the ram.
An employee was trying to remove a blockage in a dust collection system. The airlock fan activated and amputated three fingertips on the employee's right hand.
An employee was disconnecting a truck from a trailer. While pulling the fifth-wheel release that the trailer was attached to, the employee lost balance and fell backward onto the concrete pavement, resulting in a fractured T12 vertebra.
Maintenance employees were replacing a gear box in the stacker of a press. After the replacement was complete, the stacker was restarted. The maintenance employees then heard a loud noise coming from the drive chain area and the injured employee went to check the chain tension when the machine amputated his right index fingertip.
While walking towards the office inside the warehouse, an employee slipped on a piece of debris (green strap) that was on the floor and fell. The employee sustained a fractured right hip.
An employee was helping to change out a cylinder on a press. He was putting the cylinder arms down to put the cylinder in place. As he stepped over the driveshaft to pull the pin and roll the cylinders, he lost balance and started to fall forward. He dropped the cylinder arm to regain his balance and the arm came down on his right index finger and amputated the fingertip.
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 323119)
An employee climbed on a pallet to retrieve a "load flag." He fell while dismounting the pallet and landed on his right side on the floor. The employee sustained a fractured hip.
Employees were changing out a rubber roller in a laminating machine. The injured employee was supporting one end of the rubber roller while the other end was supported by a forklift. The end held by the employee slipped and fell onto their other hand which was resting on the equipment frame. They sustained an open displaced fracture of the distal phalanx of the right middle finger as well as an amputation of the right middle fingertip.
An employee was troubleshooting a varnish pump. He removed and replaced the pump. The pump was turned on and the pump impeller amputated his right middle fingertip.
An employee was packing boxes when a small package conveyor disconnected due to loose bolts and hit her thighs. She suffered temporary paralysis in both legs and a swollen muscle.
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.