Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at PAUL MUELLER COMPANY, 2306 W Phelps ST, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 65802
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was operating a head press to manufacture tanks/vessels. A piece of metal fell into the work area and was removed. As the press cycled back up, the employee's glove was caught on a burr on the side of the head pulling their left hand into the press. The left ring finger was lacerated and surgically amputated.
An employee was operating a C-frame head press when the ram came down and crushed his left hand. The employee sustained amputations of their middle and ring fingers.
An employee was using a plasma cutter on a steel plate that weighed approximately 1140 lbs. A bolt that was holding the steel plate in position broke, causing the steel plate to fall on top of the employee. The employee sustained fractured L5 and S1 vertebrae and a fractured pelvic bone.
An employee was removing a 1600 lbs. die from a flanging machine. The employee had removed 4 of 6 bolts. The final two bolts failed, and the die fell, striking the employee's leg and briefly pinning it against the wall of the machine pit. The employee was hospitalized for treatment of lacerations and fractures to his right knee/lower leg.
An employee was pulling poly film off a roll when the poly film gave way and the employee fell backward to the concrete floor, suffering a fractured hip.
An employee was injured on or about May 27, 2016, when an employee was getting ready to remove a base ring from a tank. The employee was standing on a ladder on the truck. A second employee was operating a crane to the west end. When the operator moved the west crane, he bumped into the east crane holding the base ring. The tank on the truck was moved 3 feet knocking the employee on the ladder in the truck off the ladder. The injured employee suffered fractured ribs and damage to the left kidney.
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 332420)
An employee was standing on a 10-inch high working platform (36.75"x24"x10") verifying that tanks were being picked up properly by an overhead conveyor. The employee turned and was stepping off the platform when their left work boot caught the edge of the platform. The employee fell to the concrete floor and landed on their right side. The employee's right hip was fractured.
An employee was working on a vessel, attaching the base plate ring to the legs, when the base plate shifted about 3 inches. The employee's right foot became pinned between the base plate and the floor. Three toes were crushed. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery, resulting in partial amputation of their toe tips.
Two employees were constructing a 30-foot-tall aboveground storage tank, fitting a double roof on the tank. Half of the roof had been stitch-welded to the tank, and the employees were fitting/tacking down the second half of the roof, when the roof shifted and fell in. One employee fell and sustained fractures to their right foot and shin. The second employee suffered a broken back. Both employees required hospitalization.
Two employees engaged in a verbal altercation. The injured employee was punched in the face and fell, hitting their head on the concrete floor. The employee sustained a brain bleed and blunt force trauma to the face.
An employee was readjusting a safety hook to remove hardware from gang forms when his feet slipped. He fell to the ground, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist.
An employee was on a step ladder in a store aisle, making room on shelving for merchandise. She fell from the step ladder to the floor, suffering two fractures in her left leg. She was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was closing the side cargo door to a company van. The tip of his finger got caught between the door and the door jamb, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee lost his footing while climbing an inclined ladder. He stumbled down one step and was able to stabilize himself by holding the railing and twisting his body, but he suffered an internal abdominal injury and was hospitalized.