Nonclassifiable · Loss of consciousness-not heat related
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Kansas Ethanol LLC, 1630 Avenue Q, LYONS, KANSAS 67554
on — Loss of consciousness-not heat related, affecting the bODY SYSTEMS.
Final narrative
An employee was rinsing out the methanator tank from the top portal opening when the employee lost consciousness. The employee recovered and was helped down by other employees at the job site.
On September 25, 2023, an employee was working in the body department installing doors, hoods, and tailgates. The employee finished their shift and was hospitalized later that evening for a back injury.
An employee was backing up a forklift when the frame of the forklift clipped the wall. The employee's right little finger was pinched between the wall and the forklift, resulting in amputation.
An employee was removing contaminants from a low point drain on an ammonia line through a hose and into a container of water. A release of pressure from the end of the hose exposed the employee to anhydrous ammonia, resulting in chemical burns to his face, arm, and chest as well as ammonia inhalation. He was hospitalized.
At about 7:00 a.m. on February 11, 2025, an employee was troubleshooting a system that had failed to start. Suspecting a tripped breaker and intending to test the system's motor leads, he hooked up an insulation resistance tester. The side of the breaker the tester was hooked up to was still energized, resulting in an arc flash. The employee was hospitalized with second-degree burns to his face and right arm.
An employee was preparing hopper rail cars for loading. The employee fell from the platform used to access the rail car lids, landing in an empty hopper and suffering broken ribs.
An employee was working to remove a product blockage from a piece of equipment. The employee was struck by a metal bar near the deck of the pin mixer equipment and sustained blunt force trauma to the torso.
An employee was moving a rack onto a lower conveyor in the south heat treat area when their finger got caught between the part tray and the rollers, resulting in a fingertip fracture and amputation.
An employee was climbing a ladder to get on top of the breakroom. The ladder slipped, causing him to fall to the ground. The employee sustained fractures to his upper back, left foot, and ankle.
Two employees were removing a circuit breaker. The injured employee was using wrenches in the removal process. One of the wrenches contacted an adjacent door, resulting in an arc flash. The employee suffered burns to their neck, face, and ear, as well as momentary vision loss due to the flash.
An employee bent over to pick up a rubber mat from the ground. When he grabbed the corner of the mat, a rattlesnake hidden under it bit his left middle finger near the first knuckle. He was hospitalized.