Caught in running equipment or machinery, n.e.c. · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at BMC Truss, 7239 Expressway, MISSOULA, MONTANA 59808
on — Amputations, affecting the fingertip(s).
Final narrative
An employee was performing a run check of a machine when a finger on their right hand got caught between the belt chain and sprocket, resulting in a fingertip amputation. The machine was not locked out at the time of the incident.
Employees were assembling and testing a butterfly valve unit and actuator combo. When the unit was function tested with air, the valve gate closed on an employee's left thumb resulting in a fracture and laceration.
An employee was doing a daily inspection of the sifter screen on a mixer when the mixer line activated. The armature for the screen struck the employee's right wrist. Their wrist was cut and their hand was fractured.
An employee was doing a dry run during the setup of an ice cream machine. The machine indexed and the filler head amputated the employee's left middle finger above the last knuckle.
An employee was on a 3-foot ladder guiding cable onto a spool during installation on an overhead door. As the control box was jogged, the employee's hand was caught between the cable and spool, resulting in a wrist and hand fracture.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 321214)
An employee was spreading out wood on the live feed table. As he was operating the automatic feed saw, and the wood went in crooked and he went to straighten it. His left middle fingertip was crushed between the wood and the computer monitor. The employee's fingertip was amputated without loss of bone.
An employee was working on a conveyor belt in the chipper room that was not functioning. While inspecting the uncovered gearbox, the conveyor system started. The employee sustained an amputation to their right little finger. The conveyor system was not locked out at the time.
An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.
An employee was placing trusses on conveyor rollers to be stacked. The rollers could not roll the trusses, so the employee pulled the trusses onto the rollers. One of the spinning rollers caught their hand, resulting in three fingertip amputations.
An employee reached down to pick up a box next to a roller conveyor. His gloved left hand was caught in the chain and pulled into the sprocket. Three fingers were injured: the middle and index fingers were cut to the bone, and the ring finger was amputated at the nail.
An employee was fixing an issue with seed cleaning equipment when he slipped on the ladder he was on. He went to catch himself and his hand went into a moving belt and pulley on the cleaner. The employee sustained the amputation of his right middle and index fingertips just below the fingernails.
An employee was riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to move a bison herd. He was riding up the side of a steep hill when the ATV struck a rock and rolled, ejecting the employee before rolling over him. The employee suffered broken vertebrae in his back that required hospitalization.
An employee was climbing in the spreader area to remove a pasta jam when his right little finger was cut by the rotary cut-off knife. The employee sustained a laceration and fracture, resulting in an amputation.
A smoke jumper parachuted out of a helicopter during a forest fire response, landed on steep rugged terrain, and suffered femur and rib fractures and a liver laceration. The employee was hospitalized.