Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Citrus World Inc., 20205 US Hwy 27, LAKE WALES, FLORIDA 33853
on — Fractures, affecting the knee(s).
Final narrative
An employee was walking into a filler room and started to step up on the threshold of the door but he slipped and fell, landing on his knee. He was hospitalized and required surgery for a broken left kneecap.
An employee was attempting to clear a jam on a filler machine when her right hand was pulled into the machine and pinched between the mandrel, resulting in lacerations and broken bones to the right hand.
An employee was standing in front of a palletizer when she was struck by a forklift, injuring both ankles and both feet. She then fell and lacerated the back of her head.
An employee was walking behind the store with another associate to get paperwork from the delivery driver when she fell on the walkway and sustained a leg fracture that required surgery.
An employee was adjusting the forks on a forklift when a fork detached from the forklift. The employee jumped out of the way but fell on the concrete floor. The employee was hospitalized with a broken hip.
An employee was troubleshooting to determine why a pallet was not traveling along a continuous vertical conveyor. The conveyor's rollers caused a crushing/laceration injury to the employee's right hand that required surgery.
An employee was operating a pallet end rider when it struck a rack. The employee's right foot was pinned and fractured between the forklift and the rack.
An employee was putting a machine guard back onto a chain and sprocket when their left middle finger became caught in the chain and sprocket. The employee sustained an amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was changing out a hose on a chemical tote. The fitting for the tote disengaged and the employee was exposed to peracetic acid that caused chemical burns and respiratory distress.
An employee was helping to dismantle an old piece of equipment (descrambled bottle machine) when a metal plate fell and pinched his left middle finger against the wall. The employee sustained a severe laceration that required surgery and amputation.
An employee was helping a coworker transport a tall palm tree with a mini skid steer. The employee was severely shocked by a high-voltage electrical wire above the ground.
An employee was retrieving a Christmas tree from a shelf using a ladder. He missed a step and fell to the concrete floor. He sustained injury to his head and wrist.
An employee was operating an agricultural tractor during sugarcane harvesting. The employee sustained a lumbar sprain due to vibration or motion from the tractor.
An employee was moving a 3-ton condensing unit, strapped down on a dolly, out of a garage. The strap broke, causing the employee to fall backward onto the brick pavered driveway. The employee suffered injury to a spinal ligament in the neck.