Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at IPL USA INC., 401 SE Thompson Drive, LEES SUMMIT, MISSOURI 64082
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was trying to unjam a plastic lid from a conveyor when his right middle finger was caught and amputated in the conveyor.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., on 2/21/2018, an employee was performing maintenance on a press. The machine was properly locked/tagged out and he was wearing all assigned PPE. The employee was using a pry bar to help remove a component of the press. As he was pressing on the pry bar, it slipped, and his left-hand pinky finger was then smashed between the pry bar and the edge of the mold he was working on, resulting in a partial pinky finger amputation.
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 424610)
An employee was installing a core on a spindle that was on an extruder. The employee's left little fingertip became caught between the core and an air chuck, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
An employee was setting up a forming machine when they fell approximately 3-4 feet from an elevated work platform onto a fixed railing. The employee sustained a back injury.
An employee was performing a production process that includes rough cutting a part using a band saw. When the employee went to push the part into the saw blade, the blade cut the tip of his left thumb, resulting in an amputation.
An employee was opening an interlocked door to troubleshoot a servomotor. Once the motor was placed properly, the stored pneumatic energy moved the carriage and caused the employee to sustain an amputation to their thumb.
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.