Contact with hot objects or substances · Second degree heat (thermal) burns
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, 5495 LAKE PARK-CLYATTEVILLE RD., VALDOSTA, GEORGIA 31601
on — Second degree heat (thermal) burns, affecting the back, including spine, spinal cord, unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was involved in repacking a pump in the pulp mill and had been monitoring/adjusting the seal water and packing gland for proper flow and gland leakage. As the employee turned and walked away from the completed job, the packing sleeve lost its fit to the hub/shaft and blew out of the packing box causing hot wheat black liquor (approximately 197 degrees) to spray onto the employee's back resulting in second degree thermal burns. The employee was hospitalized.
HospitalizedBack, including spine, spinal cord, unspecifiedChemicals and chemical products, n.e.c.
More severe injuries at PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
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An employee was closing a sulfuric acid line when sulfuric acid was released into the atmosphere and sprayed on their face, forearms, hip, back, and chest resulting in chemical burns.
On January 12, 2024, an employee was splicing a new roll of paper into a preconditioner on a corrugated line when the paper broke and the their right hand was caught in a nip point, resulting in a burn to their hand and a fractured wrist.
On October 20, 2023, an employee was clearing a jam when their hand contacted the labeler machine's infeed rollers causing amputations to multiple fingers.
An employee was holding a single sheet down to gap the feed gate while the machine was running. When the roll grabbed the sheet, it pulled the employee's finger into the roll, resulting in amputation of the left little fingertip.
An employee connected a steam line to a hose to clean equipment when the fitting broke loose. They were struck by steam in the left inner thigh, resulting in burns that required hospitalization.
An employee was making tea when she noticed tea grinds were collecting on the side and water was no longer dripping through the funnel. The employee was checking the funnel when boiling water and tea grinds spilled onto the left side of her body. The employee sustained burns to her neck, back, and arm.
An employee had turned off the ball valve on a waterpipe system and was removing the plug when the coupling system attached to the strainer came apart. Hot water sprayed on his arm and back, resulting in first- and second-degree burns that required surgery.
An employee was using a shovel to remove waste vermiculite from molten zinc. The metal had been placed in a bin and partially hardened. The employee broke through the partially hardened metal; still-molten metal flowed to the employee's steel-toed right boot and entered through the cloth boot tongue. The employee suffered a third-degree burn to the right foot and was hospitalized.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 322211)
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An employee was cleaning the headers of the core machine using a hand drill with a brush attachment. His glove was caught on the brush shaft, resulting in amputation of the left middle fingertip.
An employee was operating a winder paper mill machine when their right index finger became caught in the machine. The finger was partially amputated at the first knuckle.
An employee was lubricating a chain and sprocket on a corrugator splicer. He lost his balance, and his right middle finger came into contact with the chain and sprocket. The fingertip was amputated at the nail bed.
An employee was entering a building and reached out to catch a closing door. The door closed on the employee's finger, resulting in the partial amputation of the fingertip and nailbed.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
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