Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at NPL Construction Company, Foote Street and John Daniels Place, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT 06511
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
On September 9, 2020, an employee was attempting to start a vibrating tamper in order to continue compacting backfill material in a completed excavation. The employee pulled the starter cord multiple times. After the pull which started the engine, the pull cord of the vibrating tamper did not recoil correctly. The employee gathered the excess cord in his left hand in order to prevent an additional slip, trip, or fall hazard. When he engaged the throttle of the machine with his right hand, the pull cord retracted, wrapped around the employee s left thumb, and caused a partial amputation of the thumb tip.
HospitalizedAmputationFingertip(s)Compactors, crushers, pulverizers-earth, mineral
Two employees were detaching a boom from a high-track skid steer in order to place a gas line. The injured employee was positioned between the skid steer and the boom attachment while removing the hydraulic hoses. The other employee inadvertently caused the skid steer to track forward onto the injured employee's lower leg and foot, resulting in a fractured left tibia.
Three employees were working in an active work zone when a third-party vehicle entered the work zone and struck a portable light tower. The employees were then struck by the light tower, sustaining injuries. One employee was hospitalized for three rib fractures and a spleen laceration.
An employee was standing on the ground reaching over the rear passenger side wheel well directly adjacent to an affixed catwalk on the rear of a water supply truck. While the employee was operating a drain valve located on the rear of the tank, the employee slipped on snow and ice building up on the street surface. As the employee slipped and fell, they grabbed the catwalk guard railing and their left ring finger caught on the railing corner gusset support, resulting in a partial amputation down to the first knuckle.
An employee was using a portable grinder with a wire brush wheel to clean a metallic natural gas pipe in preparation for welding. The flow of natural gas had been stopped with a metallic stopper pin. As the employee was using the grinder, the stopper pin became dislodged from a seated position, resulting in a brief ignition of the natural gas. The employee suffered first and second degree burns to the right side of his face and nose.
An employee was sharpening peeler blades when their shirt was caught in the grinding wheel. The employee sustained tendon damage and a crushed right hand.
An employee was preparing to cut lumber on a panel saw when the clamp engaged and caught the employee's left middle finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 237120)
An employee was acting as a spotter for a forklift operator. While its forks were being raised, the forklift came into contact with a power line. The employee was touching the forklift's metal frame at the time and was shocked on the left palm. The employee suffered burns to both the left palm and the sole of the left foot.
An employee was working as a fire watch. The employee was exposed to anhydrous ammonia and was not able to see while climbing down a ladder due to eye irritation. The employee fell and was hospitalized for a broken ankle.
An employee was standing on the ground awaiting the lowering of a pipe. After the pipe was lowered to the ground by a skid steer, it rolled and struck the employee's left leg. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured leg.
An employee was tightening a gas pipe with a wrench when the wrench slipped from his hand. The employee's arm then hit a metal cross-brace, resulting in a lacerated arm.
An employee was checking on a machine outside of the building and removed a cover to clean out a blocked area. His hand was caught by a rotary valve in a dust collection machine. The employee's fingertip was amputated.
An employee was working to clean a glue roller with a scraper tool. The tool and the employee's left thumb were pinched between two rollers, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was re-arranging boxes of pipe insulation on a pallet. One of the boxes fell from the pallet and knocked over an upright empty cylinder. The cylinder fell and crushed the tip of the employee's right toe. The employee's toe required surgical amputation.
An employee was securing the claw of a grapple truck to the truck bed. His left little finger was caught between the tie down strap and the rub rail of the truck, resulting in partial amputation of the finger.
An employee was cutting extruded aluminum framing material using a horizontal band saw. She went to grab a rag in the machine when the rag contacted the blade and pulled her hand in toward the blade, resulting in a partial amputation of the right index finger.