Contact with hot objects or substances · Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at International Paper, 140 Summerhill Rd., SPOTSWOOD, NEW JERSEY 08884
on — Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified, affecting the multiple body parts, n.e.c..
Final narrative
On January 3, 2020, an employee was working on the singlefacer to troubleshoot a quality issue with the machine. A singlefacer is an enclosed machine that forms a corrugated shape in a sheet of kraft paper and bonds it to a sheet of flat linerboard using a starch-based adhesive. While removing bolts from the steam chest, the chest unexpectedly dropped and released hot water onto the employee's chest, arms, and legs. The employee was hospitalized for burns.
An employee was tracking an infeed belt on a scrap hogger when their right arm was caught between the belt and a roller. The arm was broken and the employee's shoulder was dislocated. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was repairing a chemical leak under an ultrasonic cleaning machine while lying on the ground. The employee had used water to identify the leak. The floor got wet and potentially activated the chemical, a solution used for cleaning anilox rolls. The employee sustained chemical burns to their right shoulder, right forearm, and right buttock.
An employee was clearing a jam inside a hogger machine. The employee's left hand came into contact with blades in the machine, resulting in hospitalization with a fractured left hand.
An employee was putting a machine back in service from being locked and tagged out. When the employee restarted the machine, hot water and broken down woodchips began to flow from the drain valve. The employee sustained first-and second-degree burns to both lower legs.
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 322219)
An employee had just spliced a new roll to the paper being fed into a winder machine. The employee realized the splice would not hold and was working to correct it when their right hand was caught between the winder head and a belt. The employee suffered broken fingers. The incident took place during a training activity.
An employee was installing fence posts when they stepped into a recently dug hole that was not visible due to rainfall. The employee's leg was fractured.
An employee assisted in cleaning material from a conveyor pit. After the pit was cleaned, the employee proceeded to replace metal safety plates to ensure other employees did not fall into the pit. While replacing one of the last plates, the employee mis-stepped and fell approximately 5 feet into the pit. The employee was hospitalized with back/side bruising, elbow bruising, bone bruises, and/or fractured ribs.
An employee was walking on the sidewalk. When they stepped off the curb, they fell to the ground, resulting in fractures to their tibia, fibula, and a metatarsal.