Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at GFL Environmental, Sawgrass Community, REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE 19971
on — Amputations, affecting the toes(s), toenail(s).
Final narrative
Two employees were using a rear-load garbage truck to collect residential solid waste in a new construction community, where there were roll-off containers along the roadway. As the truck passed a roll-off container on the right and the pass narrowed, employee 1, who was standing on the passenger-side rear riding step, pulled himself closer to the truck to avoid the container and wrapped his left leg around the back of the truck and rested his foot on the hopper seal. The sweep compactor began running while his foot was still resting on the seal, and the tip of his left foot was caught in the compactor. Employee 1 sustained a partial amputation to his left big toe and a fracture to his left second toe.
AmputationToes(s), toenail(s)Garbage, recycling, or refuse truck
An employee was changing front brake pads on a truck with a hydraulic jack under the steer axle when the jack kicked out and the truck came down on his right foot. The rotor landed on the floor, the hub landed on the steel toe of his work boot, and the studs came down on his foot. The employee sustained fractures to his right foot and toes.
An employee was dumping a two-yard dumpster into a truck. After dumping into the truck, the latch/lock stuck. The employee was trying to get the latch/lock to release when the trunnion bar pinched their right little fingertip, amputating it.
On July 26, 2021, an employee was on the riding step of a garbage truck picking up garbage on a dirt road. The truck got close to a tree, knocking the employee off the riding step and resulting in bruising on his left thigh that required hospitalization.
An employee was emptying trash containers in the back of a compactor truck when his hand was contacted by the compactor blade, resulting in a partial amputation to the distal phalanx of his left middle finger.
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 562111)
An employee was operating the compaction levers on a truck when a motor vehicle crashed into the back of the stopped truck. The employee sustained fractured ribs and contusions.
A maintenance employee was moving a forklift from the loading dock when the forklift fell off the dock. The employee was struck by the overhead portion of the roll bar, injuring his right knee. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery.
An employee was standing on the driver side rear step of a trash truck while traveling down a road to collect residential trash. The employee went to signal the driver and slipped off the step while the truck was traveling 8-9 miles per hour. He fell 18 inches to the ground and was hospitalized with a fractured ankle that required surgery.
A flagger was directing traffic flow in a highway work zone. They were standing approximately 1.5 feet behind the shoulder's demarcating line, next to and slightly behind a traffic drum. As they were directing traffic into and out of the driveway of a parking lot, a car attempted to get around a truck and struck the traffic drum, which subsequently struck the employee, who was thrown 15 feet and landed on top of concrete aggregate. The employee suffered pelvic and rib fractures, T10 and L3 vertebra fractures, and internal bleeding.
An employee was troubleshooting a power washer in the field. Because there might have been water in its fuel, he brought it back to the shop and drained about a gallon of fuel from the tank into a plastic container. Some of the fuel spilled onto the floor and ignited. The employee was stomping out the fire when he lost his balance and tripped into a stool, which caused the plastic container to spill more fuel onto the fire. The employee's pants and shirt caught on fire, and he fell, abrading his knee while trying to get through the flames. As well as the knee abrasion, he suffered burns to the left leg and left lower quadrant of the torso. He was hospitalized.
An employee was backing up a tram (towing powered industrial equipment) to connect it to a trash bin. The employee's left forearm/wrist was caught and crushed between the tram and the bin. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee went to lift a carton and tripped on a different carton that was on the floor. She fell on the floor in the backroom and sustained a fractured right hip, and abrasions to her arm and knee. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.