Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Maher Terminals LLC, 1210 Corbin Street, ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY 07201
on — Herniated discs, affecting the lumbar region.
Final narrative
An employee was operating a straddle carrier when they drove over a pothole, resulting in lower back pain due to a slipped disk.
HospitalizedLumbar regionCranes-other mobile cranes
A shipping yard laborer had just helped a straddle carrier operator connect lifting gear to a flat rack's arms. The straddle carrier was lifting the arm when the flat rack slid toward the yard laborer and pinned him against the bumper of the straddle. The laborer suffered a broken sternum.
While operating a straddle machine, an employee attempted to make a right turn when the straddle tipped over. The employee sustained a left arm fracture.
An employee was driving an aerial lift over a cable ramp. The employee backed up the aerial lift to cross over the cable ramp. During this process, the lift and basket bounced, causing the employee to bounce and land on his right foot, resulting in a fracture to his right leg.
An employee was operating a tractor in a potato field to pack down the soil. As the tractor tires drove over uneven soil, the tractor suspension moved abruptly, causing the enclosed operator seat compartment to also move. The employee was ejected from the seat and struck their head, arm and ribs inside the tractor compartment. The employee sustained a head and arm laceration as well as rib fractures.
An employee was operating an aerial lift when it impacted a berm on the ground. The employee lost balance and struck his abdomen against the guardrail system on the aerial lift, then fell backward and struck his head against the guardrail. The employee sustained a punctured spleen.
An employee was operating a skid steer with dirt in the bucket. The skid steer drove over uneven ground, causing the bucket to tilt forward and hit the ground. As a result, the employee's head struck the bar on the front top part of the cab. The employee sustained a compression injury to the neck and upper back that included two injured vertebral discs that required surgery.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 483111)
An employee was assisting in the discharge and segregation of a leaking HAZMAT container (organic peroxide Type F) and inhaled the fumes of the leaking product. The employee was hospitalized with difficulty breathing.
An employee was directing traffic on a deck. After giving the driver of a cargo van directions, the employee then turned his back to the vehicle and walked backward as it moved forward. The rear of the chassis struck the employee and knocked him to the ground, and he was then run over by the rear tires. The employee suffered broken bones, along with multiple other injuries.
An employee was working from the ground, helping as a crane placed cargo loaded on flat racks onto a road chassis. As the employee moved to place a connecting pin, a flat rack shifted and crushed his right index finger. Half of the finger was amputated.
An employee was filling up the air reservoir tank on a brake bleeder kit. The tank ruptured and separated at the seam, and the employee suffered severe lacerations and fractures to the right hand.
An employee had just unjammed a warehouse dock leveler. The end of the dock leveler came down on the employee's left middle and ring fingers, crushing them against a container and causing avulsions.
An employee was installing fence posts when they stepped into a recently dug hole that was not visible due to rainfall. The employee's leg was fractured.
An employee assisted in cleaning material from a conveyor pit. After the pit was cleaned, the employee proceeded to replace metal safety plates to ensure other employees did not fall into the pit. While replacing one of the last plates, the employee mis-stepped and fell approximately 5 feet into the pit. The employee was hospitalized with back/side bruising, elbow bruising, bone bruises, and/or fractured ribs.
An employee was walking on the sidewalk. When they stepped off the curb, they fell to the ground, resulting in fractures to their tibia, fibula, and a metatarsal.