Contact with hot objects or substances · Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Thompson Hardwoods, Inc., 600 Baxley Highway, HAZLEHURST, GEORGIA 31539
on — Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns, affecting the multiple body parts, n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was operating a loader with a grapple attachment to unload tree logs from a truck when he noticed the temperature indicator light flashing. The employee turned off the loader and waited a few minutes to let the engine cool off. Next, the employee started to remove one of the radiator caps on the loader. As he started removing the cap, hot water and steam released from that area, striking the employee. He sustained third degree burns to his left wrist, left arm, and left side torso.
HospitalizedMultiple body parts, n.e.c.Steam, vapors-nonchemical
An employee and co-worker were working to unjam and move a 100-pound piece of crossed-up cant timber. The employee lost their grip and the timber fell on their right hand, resulting in crush injuries to the fingers.
An employee was operating a UTV on-site traveling east and collided with a front-end loader that was traveling north and turning at the same intersection. The injured employee was struck by the bucket of the loader and sustained broken ribs and a pneumothorax.
An employee was placing the chain back on the sprocket of a rip saw when his glove was caught in the chain and sprocket resulting in amputation of his left pinky and ring fingers. His left middle finger was partially amputated.
An employee was trying to remove a piece of stuck bark debris from a conveyor system. The conveyor caught the employee's left hand, lacerating the thumb and possibly amputating the index fingertip.
An employee connected a steam line to a hose to clean equipment when the fitting broke loose. They were struck by steam in the left inner thigh, resulting in burns that required hospitalization.
An employee was making tea when she noticed tea grinds were collecting on the side and water was no longer dripping through the funnel. The employee was checking the funnel when boiling water and tea grinds spilled onto the left side of her body. The employee sustained burns to her neck, back, and arm.
An employee had turned off the ball valve on a waterpipe system and was removing the plug when the coupling system attached to the strainer came apart. Hot water sprayed on his arm and back, resulting in first- and second-degree burns that required surgery.
An employee was using a shovel to remove waste vermiculite from molten zinc. The metal had been placed in a bin and partially hardened. The employee broke through the partially hardened metal; still-molten metal flowed to the employee's steel-toed right boot and entered through the cloth boot tongue. The employee suffered a third-degree burn to the right foot and was hospitalized.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 321113)
An employee was repairing a photo eye on the infeed roll case when they dropped a tool. The employee went to grab the tool and his fingers contacted the chain and sprocket of the infeed roll case. His fingers were pulled into the pinch point and the fingertips were crushed, resulting in amputation of one fingertip.
An employee was troubleshooting dispersing equipment. A belt and pulley system was energized, and the moving belt caught the employee's right ring finger. He suffered a partial amputation at the first knuckle, below the nail.
An employee was cleaning the photo eye sensors of a piece of equipment between the saw that cuts lumber into lengths and boards. The employee stepped on a metal grate that gave way and fell 8-10 feet. The employee was able to remove himself from the conveyor. His tibia was fractured just below the knee.
While refilling a lubricant tank, an employee observed that a pump was not operating correctly. While troubleshooting the issue, the employee reached toward the back of the pump to check for proper airflow. Their left index finger contacted moving components in the pump's piston mechanism, resulting in partial amputation of the fingertip.
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.