Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Pepper Source Ltd - Van Buren, 5800 Alma Highway, VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS 72956
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was attempting to unjam a pump. The pump unjammed while the employee's right hand was on the v-belt. The employee's hand was drawn into the pulley and the pinky finger was amputated. The tendon on the ring finger was also severed.
AmputationFinger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c.Pumps
More severe injuries at Pepper Source Ltd - Van Buren
Two employees were repairing the hydraulic engagement pins on a rented front-end wheel loader. The machine controls were activated to move the attachment pins and an employee's finger was caught between the pins and the bushings. Their right index finger was partially amputated.
An employee was cleaning the conveyor on a piece of equipment when they slipped and their right hand was pulled into the chain sprocket. The employee's fifth fingertip was amputated.
An employee was throwing blankets onto a blanket folding and stacking machine. A blanket got stuck in the machine and she attempted to remove it when the machine contacted her right little finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 311941)
A production maintenance technician's right index fingertip was severed after contacting the valve of a filler machine on a production line. His right index finger was partially amputated below the nail.
On August 14, 2025, an employee was priming a pump that was failing to pump mustard. The employee took a water hose and started water into the pump. The employee's finger slipped off the nozzle of the hose and came into contact with the pump's impellers, causing the employee to suffer an amputation to the right index finger at the first knuckle.
An employee was cleaning packets from a box shaker when the shaker crushed his left middle finger. The employee sustained partial amputation of the finger through the phalanx.
An employee was cleaning inside a machine using a rag. The rag was caught in a sprocket and their hand was pulled into the machine, resulting in the amputation of two fingers.
An employee was shrink wrapping product on the hand shrink wrapper. As the employee went to tear the shrink wrap, his finger struck a sharp edge on the conveyor stand. The employee's fingertip was amputated.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.