Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Wenger Manufacturing, 1150 Rundell Rd., GERING, NEBRASKA 69341
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was loading ductwork onto a flatbed trailer when the sliding gate pinched the employee's right middle finger, causing a partial amputation to the fingertip.
An employee was deburring a steel plate when the plate shifted and landed on the work bench, compressing the employee's left thumb and amputating the tip.
An employee was climbing down from a tractor trailer bed when they lost their footing and grabbed onto the roll-up door to stop the fall. The roll-up door then fell onto the employee's hand, resulting in a hand fracture that required surgery.
An employee was attempting to remove a tarp from a flatbed trailer when the trailer handle struck the employee in the chest, resulting in two broken ribs and a punctured lung.
An employee was near a backhoe while the operator was getting a broom. The broom handle struck the lever that actuates the swing of the backhoe bucket. The bucket then struck the injured employee, pinning him to the outrigger. The employee suffered crush injuries to the chest.
The injured employee was being trained on loading trucks in the load out bay. The injured employee and his supervisor climbed the stairs that run parallel to the truck and trailer, walked to the upper platform used for observation and sample taking, and saw that the lid of the grain trailer was closed. The employees began working to open the lid which appeared to be stuck due to cold weather. The injured employee pulled on one of the pivot arms that connect the lid to the main body of the trailer. As the lid began to open, the employee s right hand slipped down on the pivot arm and his index finger was caught between the pivot arm and the base of the pivot arm. The employee s right index finger was fractured and three nerves were severed. The employee was hospitalized.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 332119)
A forklift operator was switching out a propane tank on his forklift when the tank leaked and sprayed his right hand, resulting in hospitalization due to liquid propane burns. PPE (gloves) were not worn at the time of the incident.
On September 2, 2025, at approximately 10:15 AM, an employee was setting a rest die in a press when the die slipped off the parallels. One of the employee's fingertips became caught in the die, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
On August 19, 2025, an employee was changing tooling on a sizing machine. The employee's left ring fingertip was pinched between the tooling and the machine and was partially amputated.
An employee was loading pipe into a flare machine when a part clamp caught her right hand. The hand was lacerated and broken. A light curtain was in place at the time of the incident.
A maintenance employee was working on the roof of a small office inside the facility. The employee fell through the ceiling and landed on the floor inside the office. The employee sustained fractured ribs and a punctured lung and was hospitalized.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.