Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Graphic Packaging International LLC, 1700 West Ash Avenue, MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA 57301
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was sanding a thin piece of metal on a table disc sander when a metal piece and the tip of the employee's right thumb were pulled into the gap between the disc and the table. The tip of the employee's thumb was amputated.
An employee was loading a chemical mixture intermediate bulk container tote from a pipeline to a tank. The employee went to disconnect the container and they were splashed with the chemical mixture that was in the pipeline, resulting in chemical burns to both legs.
A pulp mill employee was working around a fiber line. While connecting or disconnecting a hose between pipes, the employee came into contact with hot black liquor (sodium hydroxide). The employee suffered first-degree burns to the torso area and was hospitalized.
An employee was troubleshooting cup transfer issues on a cup machine. The employee installed his company issued by-pass key, opened the machine's gull wings (guards), and began making air adjustments. The employee reached to remove a deformed cup and his middle and ring fingers got caught between a mandrel and the bottom maker die block resulting in amputations.
On November 16, 2023, a maintenance employee was servicing a belt and pulley system on a blower motor. They were manually manipulating the belt and pulley when the glove on their left hand got caught in a nip point. Their little finger was pulled into the nip point resulting in amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was using prybars to remove a diverter plate from a power boiler bark chute. The lower chute broke free and flipped over. As the employee reached out to try to stop the chute section from falling, his right index finger was pinched between the diverter plate and the bark chute. Their finger was amputated at the first knuckle.
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 561910)
An employee was walking behind the rewind coding machine while on his phone. He rested his left wrist on top of the slitter bar and his finger came in contact with the roller, resulting in amputation.
The injured employee was assisting the bander operator with dressing units with dunnage. A unit became stuck on the conveyor. The injured employee was pushing the unit on the conveyor when a conveyor roller pulled his shoe in-between the rollers. The employee sustained crushing injuries to their left foot/toes.
An employee was inspecting and adjusting a tray in a thermoforming machine when the the trigger switch was touched, causing the machine door to close on their right hand. The employee sustained crushing injuries to the hand.
An employee was moving a tensile strength test device with a dolly. The device fell from the dolly onto the employee's right leg, causing a compound fracture.
An employee was walking past a crossover conveyor when a ramp came down and hit them in the back. The employee sustained a broken back vertebra, as well as a concussion, and was hospitalized.
An employee was using a hook tool to pull a pallet onto the lift gate of a tractor trailer. The hook detached from the underside of the pallet, causing the employee to fall backward off the lift gate. The employee landed on the concrete parking lot about 5 feet below, suffering fractures to the skull and two thoracic vertebrae.
An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.