Struck by dislodged flying object, particle · Fractures
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Croda, Inc., 8 Croda Way, MILL HALL, PENNSYLVANIA 17751
on — Fractures, affecting the multiple face locations.
Final narrative
On August 24, 2018, an employee was bleeding out a line carrying cetyl 16-18 fatty alcohol. The material was frozen in the line; when the employee opened the bleeder valve, the hose blew off and struck him in the face. He suffered fractures of the hard palate and nasal spine and a lacerated gumline that required stitches.
An employee was performing maintenance on and cleaning a conveyor that moves powders up to a reactor when he noticed powder coming out of an elbow on the conveyor's powder tube. As he was checking the powder's consistency, his right index finger pushed through the powder and was caught in the conveyor's belt linkage, amputating his fingertip.
An employee was heating and circulating a chemical batch in a process tank. The employee opened the automatic valve in the control room to begin the transfer of hot molten chemical material. Two bottom drain valves were left open on the transfer line spilling the hot molten chemical material onto the floor. The employee was hospitalized for second and third degree burns to the lower extremities and both hands and arms.
An employee was tossing a damaged toilet into a compactor. The toilet bounced off the compactor and lacerated the employee's right wrist, cutting an artery and tendon.
An employee was operating a hydraulic jack to bend a frame when the jack came loose and struck the employee. They were hospitalized for a spleen injury.
A truck had been towed into the shop with a flat tire and a blown airbag. An employee checked the tire for damage and was airing the tire. The employee was installing the valve core when the bead slipped off the rim. Air escaped, and the aluminum wheel struck the employee's head and face. The employee became unresponsive and was bleeding.
On December 14, 2023, at 8:40 p.m., three employees were inspecting milling machines for startup. A few of the sleeves on the mill drum needed to be changed out. The injured employee was trying to input a sleeve on the mill drum using a hammer. The hammer hit the edge of the drum, which caused a metal piece to splinter off and strike the employee's cheek just below the left eye. The metal splinter embedded in the back of their eye socket, resulting in pain, swelling, and bleeding that required hospitalization.
An employee was pushing a line of carts into a vestibule when the door cable snapped and struck his right ankle. The employee suffered a fracture that required surgery and hospitalization.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 325411)
The injured employee removed a front plate to clean a pump. His left hand was caught in moving parts and the employee's middle fingertip was amputated.
An employee was working on a work assist vehicle lift that was elevated about 3 feet off the ground. The employee fell to the concrete floor and hit their head. The employee suffered a broken disc in the back, as well as a broken skull with internal bleeding.
An employee was removing a cross-threaded nut and bolt from a metal machine using a torque wrench when the wrench slipped from the nut. They struck their right index finger against the machine, resulting in crush injuries to the finger and a fingertip amputation.
An employee was cleaning the mezzanine area when they crossed over the railing onto an I-beam and fell through a ceiling tile. The employee fell 15 feet to the floor and sustained a fractured spine and left heel.
An employee was walking into the motor control center (MCC) room when his right ring finger was caught in the hinge of a doorway. He sustained an open phalanx fracture, which resulted in a partial amputation above the first knuckle.
An employee was changing the spacing on a telehandler's forks. A fork slipped, and the employee's left index finger was caught between it and the mast. The fingertip was medically amputated at the first knuckle.
An employee was pulling down a broken skid with a forklift. When the employee backed up the forklift to get the forks out of the skid he pulled down, he contacted the forks of another parked forklift, fracturing both of his legs. He was hospitalized.
An employee was carrying cups back to the kitchen when her foot got caught on a cart and she fell face-first. During the fall, a piece of glass from a cup cut the inside of her mouth, severing an artery. She also sustained a laceration on her lower lip. The employee was hospitalized.