Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at PECO FOODS, INC., 588 RAMSEY ST., BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS 72501
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was changing a forklift cylinder. The employee was gauging the distance from the cylinder to the forklift mast through a hole with his left index finger when he asked a coworker to lower the forklift's mast. As the mast lowered, the employee's finger was caught between the mast and the cylinder, amputating the fingertip.
AmputationFingertip(s)Forklift, order picker, platform truck-powered
On March 24, 2025, an employee was clearing a backed-up drain. As he was removing one of two fiberglass grates from the clogged drain, the grate slipped and fell, causing his right index finger to be crushed between the two grates. His right distal index finger was fractured and lacerated.
An employee was draining hot oil from the fryer into the floor drain and went to close the valve when they slipped and fell to the floor. They fell into hot oil that overflowed from the drain, resulting in burns to 45% of their body.
An employee was cleaning a chicken neck skinning machine when they noticed chicken skin was stuck on a piece of the machinery. The employee removed the piece of excess skin and their left index finger got caught in the equipment, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
An employee was gravity feeding a chemical cleaner from a forklift into a fryer using a hose when the hose came disconnected. The chemical sprayed onto the employee, resulting in chemical burns to their neck, back, and pelvic area.
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 112340)
On July 23, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., an employee was power washing. He went to retrieve a power-washing tip from the machine's fan while it was in operation and the fan blade contacted his right index finger, severing it at the distal joint.
An employee was pulling two separate egg racks when the wheels of the front rack locked, causing the second rack to crush his thumb between both of the racks. The employee sustained an amputation to the tip of the right thumb.
An employee was in the pump room troubleshooting a pump. He unscrewed the top panel of the pump and inadvertently hit the toggle switch that activated the pump. The internal belt caught his right index finger, causing a laceration that resulted in a partial surgical amputation.
An employee was attaching a winch hook to a chick pallet. The winch was activated via remote control and pinched the employee's left index fingertip between the hook and pallet resulting in amputation.
An employee was repairing a water pump on a lawn mower. He replaced the water pump and thermometer and then went to test drive it. The mower started running hot, so he brought it back to the shop and opened the hood on the mower. The radiator overflowed the bottle, the lid blew off, and hot coolant sprayed the employee's face, eyes, and neck. The employee was hospitalized for burns.
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.