Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at PALLETONE OF FLORIDA, INC., 3794 OLD MACON ROAD, FORSYTH, GEORGIA 31029
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was operating a pallet machine when his glove was caught in the chain and his hand was pulled into the chain and sprocket. The tips of his left little and ring fingers were amputated.
AmputationFingertip(s)Metal, woodworking, and special material machinery, unspecified
More severe injuries at PALLETONE OF FLORIDA, INC.
An employee was attempting to clean sawdust out of the dust pipe on the six-head bandsaw and contacted the moving saw blade causing an open fracture/laceration on the right middle and ring fingers. A part of the middle finger was surgically amputated. The machine was unguarded and not locked out/tagged out at the time of the incident.
An employee was trying to clear a jam on a six-head saw belt when the conveyor belt caught his glove and pulled his right ring finger underneath a guard, amputating his fingertip.
An employee was feeding wood into the chop saw. The employee's left thumb was amputated when the saw was activated. The saw was guarded at the time of the incident.
An employee was attempting to straighten up a board on the conveyor. As he was attempting to pull the board, his left-hand index finger was caught in the chain and sprocket. He was hospitalized overnight, and his fingertip was amputated.
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 321920)
An employee was cutting wood with a miter saw when their clothing was pulled into the blade, resulting in a bicep laceration. The employee was hospitalized. The blade cover was not in place at the time of the incident.
Two employees were working to change a tire on a mobile slasher saw. The slasher weighs around 2,000 pounds and is towed. Employee 2 was lifting the saw while the injured employee was placing a block of wood under the frame for support. The slasher then lowered onto the block and the injured employee's left thumb was crushed between the slasher frame and the wood block, leading to an amputation at the first knuckle.
An employee was processing wood boards at a chop saw when the saw malfunctioned and the blade cut her left hand and fingers. She was hospitalized and her little finger was surgically amputated.
An employee was operating a bubble wrap production line. He was splicing the ends of the film rolls together with tape when a driven roll contacted his hand. His hand and arm were pulled into the machine up to his shoulder. The employee's forearm contacted the the hot surface (230-500 F) of the bubble stamping cylinder. He was hospitalized with burns to the forearm that required surgery and crushing injuries to the hand and forearm without fractures.
An employee was operating a pallet dismantling saw. A board became stuck, and the employee tried to pull the pallet. When the board broke, the employee's right hand made contact with the blade, resulting in the amputation of the right middle finger above the second knuckle.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.