Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at LUXCO, 5050 KEMPER AVENUE, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI 63139
on — Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was mixing coloring into a distillery tank. A flash fire burned the employee's right middle, ring, and little fingers.
An employee was performing oversight for the welding of a pipeline launcher door on a construction project. Two welders were performing arc welding, one on the interior diameter of the pipeline launcher door, and the other on the outside diameter of the launcher door when a flash fire occurred. The injured employee sustained first- and second-degree burns to the face, neck, back, and hands.
While on a scissor lift, an employee was grinding a steel pipe. Sparks from the grinder ignited some nearby rags that had been used to apply coating treatments to the pipe. This fire subsequently ignited the employee's clothing. The employee sustained burns to approximately 46% of their body and was hospitalized.
An employee was working in an area where another company was also working. The other company's employees were using an electric hydraulic pump to remove the bolts of the frac valve. The wiring of the torque wrench and pump unit were then charred and a flash fire occurred. The employee sustained second-degree burns to their face and neck.
On October 17, 2023, an employee was at a sink while using a solvent to unclog a vacuum trap dip tube that contained solids from pinacolborane distillation. During this process, the sink caught on fire and the solvent bottle containing tert-butyl methyl ether fell into the burning sink. The employee attempted to remove the solvent bottle which also caught on fire and suffered burns to their neck and left hand.
An employee was under a railcar cleaning up dust with a vacuum hose. The hose caused a spark that caused a flash fire that ignited the employee's clothing. The employee sustained second- and third-degree burns over 83% of his body.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 312140)
An employee was using a sickle to clean vines and leaves from a conveyor. The sickle was caught by the machine and the tool struck the employee s hand, pushing it toward a sharp edge on the structure. Two fingers on his right hand were partially amputated.
The injured employee was operating an electric pallet jack when it struck a forklift. The forks of the forklift pierced the injured employee's left foot and amputated several toes.
An employee was unloading a large cylindrical metal filter housing from a pallet onto the floor to be cleaned when he dropped the assembly on his foot, causing a hairline fracture to his right toe.
An employee was cleaning bottles of consumer alcohol with a rag and disposing of broken glass. The employee ingested a 3-millimeter piece of glass and was hospitalized.
On December 4, 2018, an employee was assisting the operator of a multi-blade cutting system in the woodshop. The employees were cutting down wooden barrels. The operator was adjusting the machine and struck the still spinning blade while removing a piece of wood causing a severe finger laceration.
An employee was readjusting a safety hook to remove hardware from gang forms when his feet slipped. He fell to the ground, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist.
An employee was on a step ladder in a store aisle, making room on shelving for merchandise. She fell from the step ladder to the floor, suffering two fractures in her left leg. She was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was closing the side cargo door to a company van. The tip of his finger got caught between the door and the door jamb, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee lost his footing while climbing an inclined ladder. He stumbled down one step and was able to stabilize himself by holding the railing and twisting his body, but he suffered an internal abdominal injury and was hospitalized.