Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Apex Aluminum Die Casting Co., Inc., 8877 Sherry Dr., PIQUA, OHIO 45356
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
On February 8, 2018, an employee was cleaning out the bed of a die cast machine's C-frame while a die setter was changing the machine's piston. The employee attempted to remove something from the machine just as the die setter activated it. His right ring finger was then caught between the platen and the sleeve ring, amputating his fingertip.
AmputationFingertip(s)Casting machinery
More severe injuries at Apex Aluminum Die Casting Co., Inc.
An employee was preparing to load a truck. They opened the dock door and were putting the dock plate in place, using their foot to push the plate down. The employee tripped and their right hand became caught in the hinge of the dock plate. Their middle and ring fingertips were amputated.
An employee was working to hook an overhead crane to a die-cast mold. The hook of the crane struck the side of the mold and caused it to fall. The employee went to catch the mold and it fell on their left index finger, resulting in a partial 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 331521)
An employee was trimming manufactured parts using a two-hand control, C-frame trim press. They were manipulating parts in the machine when their hand contacted the controls that energized the machine. The employee sustained amputations to their left index finger and left thumb.
Two employees were operating an aluminum die casting machine when a piston that pushed molten aluminum into the mold stopped dispensing aluminum correctly. After they had spent several hours fixing the issue, the machine cycled and the die closed on one employee's right hand. The employee suffered amputations to the index fingertip and the thumb at the knuckle.
An employee was operating a mold machine when a pouring ladle that was coated with a water-based paste was submerged in molten aluminum. The moisture caused an explosion, resulting in severe burns over his body.
On September 10, 2024, at approximately 5:55 AM, an employee suffered burns to his right hand as he was removing a ladle from a furnace and the cup made contact with the side of the furnace, splashing molten aluminum into his glove. The employee was hospitalized with burns to his right hand.
An employee was working to deliver mail to an apartment building. She was waiting for a customer to move, to obtain clearance to the mailboxes. The door swung inward and closed on her right little finger. The top half of her finger was surgically amputated.
An employee fell from a step ladder while reaching for a tie-off point. He impacted the ground, and landed on his bolt bag which contained tools. The employee was hospitalized with fractured ribs, and a lacerated spleen and kidney.
On October 30, 2025, an employee was working to adjust a stackable metal shipping container. As the container dropped into place, it caught the employee's hands in an area between the upper and lower cross-members. The employee suffered a laceration to the left ring finger that required stitches, bruising to the right ring finger, and fractures to the right middle finger that necessitated medical amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was moving a scissor lift through a doorway. The employee was pinned between the scissor lift and the doorframe, sustained a back injury, and was hospitalized.
An employee was setting up communication equipment for a meeting. They were walking and tripped over a speaker on the ground. The employee sustained a leg injury.