Struck by dislodged flying object, particle · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Western Bronze, Co., 54 Western Ave. , WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 01089
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
On January 17, 2019, an employee was setting up a cut-off grinding machine to smooth two castings. When the cutting/grinding was initiated, the abrasive wheel disintegrated and shot out at the employee. The employee sustained a thumb amputation and other injuries to the hand and chest.
HospitalizedAmputationFinger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c.Machine and appliance parts, n.e.c.
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 331523)
An employee was adjusting the oscillator pressure injector on a die-cast machine when his right thumb contacted the adjustment handle. The machine oscillated and closed on his right thumb. The tip of the thumb was pinched and amputated between the die and the handle.
An employee in the melt department was getting ready to put a recirculation pump into the pump housing area. He first put the pump in a cabinet to warm it up to avoid thermal shock. It shifted and the cold refractory contacted the hot metal. Molten metal contacted the employee, resulting in third-degree burns between their knee(s) and ankle(s). The employee was wearing some personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time but this was breached by the molten metal.
On May 15, 2025, an employee was assisting with troubleshooting an issue with a die in a die casting machine. While unjamming the machine, the employee's finger was caught between a section of the die and a wooden spacer. The employee's left middle fingertip was amputated.
An employee was checking the die casting machine when the cavity access door closed behind him and the employee sustained eight fractured ribs. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was using a vertical band saw to cut a piece of square metal tubing when their left hand contacted the saw blade and their middle finger was amputated.
An employee fell while exiting a trailer. The employee landed on their left side on the pavement, suffering multiple broken ribs on the left side. The employee was hospitalized.
Two employees were setting up a mandrel in the spindle of a machine. The mandrel was side-shifted while an employee's hand was on the mast of a powered industrial truck. The employee suffered crushing injuries that resulted in amputations to the middle and ring fingertips.
An employee had been loading a double deck press. The employee saw a mold had been sent in with the C-hook still attached on the belly bar. As he went to remove the hook from the mold, his right thumb got caught on the C-hook. The employee's thumb was partially amputated.
An employee was operating a roller and paving a small pathway next to a pavilion. The ground was on a slight pitch, causing him to reach up toward the roll cage to stabilize himself. His right fifth finger was pinched between the roll cage and the rafter of the pavilion. The employee sustained a partial degloving injury with partial traumatic amputation.
An employee was delivering home heating fuel when bees came from the ground and stung the employee's face, neck, torso, and hands. The employee proceeded to shut off the oil flow before losing consciousness. They were hospitalized due to an anaphylactic reaction.