Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at General Mills, 3007 Stephens Blvd, JOPLIN, MISSOURI 64804
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was using a wrench to adjust a bolt on a conveyor belt when he came in contact with the geared conveyance system, which pulled the wrench away from his hand. His right middle finger was in a circular opening of the wrench handle. When the wrench pulled away, it amputated his fingertip.
An employee was changing the belt of a sorting machine. He was on his knees, changing the drive belt under the machine, when lost his balance and hit his head on the framework. He suffered an injury that caused numbness in both arms and hands and was hospitalized.
An employee went to grab his lunch box from a table in the breakroom. He rotated, took a few steps, and then fell to the floor. The employee sustained right femur fracture and was hospitalized.
An employee was troubleshooting a palletizer that wasn't working. While walking on the conveyor, the employee jumped to reach a photo eye and fell on his leg, resulting in a fractured femur.
An employee was operating a forklift and picking a pallet when the vehicle contacted a nearby parked forklift that had the forks raised. The employee sustained a left foot fracture and laceration.
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 311412)
An employee was performing maintenance under a kettle. When he removed a tri-clamp on a transfer line, the hot fat and broth material in the kettle poured out onto his arm. The employee was hospitalized with burns.
An employee was walking on top of boiler to close a valve. The employee fell off the boiler and landed on the floor, sustaining fractured ribs. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was inspecting a pipe in the rice cooking area near an oven. While checking for a clog, the fingers of their right hand were caught in an airlock at the base of the pipe. All the fingers were amputated except the thumb. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was readjusting a safety hook to remove hardware from gang forms when his feet slipped. He fell to the ground, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist.
An employee was on a step ladder in a store aisle, making room on shelving for merchandise. She fell from the step ladder to the floor, suffering two fractures in her left leg. She was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was closing the side cargo door to a company van. The tip of his finger got caught between the door and the door jamb, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee lost his footing while climbing an inclined ladder. He stumbled down one step and was able to stabilize himself by holding the railing and twisting his body, but he suffered an internal abdominal injury and was hospitalized.