Injured by slipping or swinging object held by other person · Cuts, lacerations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at U.S. FOREST SERVICE, LA GRANDE RANGER DISTRICT, Aggie Creek, FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99701
on — Cuts, lacerations, affecting the lower leg(s).
Final narrative
A two-person saw crew was constructing a fire line at a forest fire. One of them was using a chainsaw when it kicked back, striking the other one's right shin. It knocked aside his protective chaps and cut into the skin, muscle, and bone of the lower shin.
The injured employee was holding a board that was being cut by another employee. The board kicked back, causing the saw to amputate the employee's left little finger and lacerate their left hand, resulting in nerve damage.
On September 26, 2023, an employee was working in a trench box while a co-worker was lowering a piece of plastic pipe by hand using a rope. The pipe swung and struck the employee's hand, fracturing their right thumb and middle and ring fingers. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee went over to a co-worker's station while the co-worker was using a powered meat knife. As the injured employee was pointing, his right index fingertip was amputated.
Two employees were using a handheld banding tool to make banding tape for tent set-ups. One employee was holding the banding tool and the injured employee was looping a metal clip around the tape. The tool closed while the injured employee's hand was near the banding mechanism. The banding tape caught the employee's right ring finger as it tightened, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was holding a branch against a log on the ground to make a wedge while another employee was using a chainsaw to cut the wedge. The saw slipped and struck the employee holding the branch, resulting in a laceration to the right wrist.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 924120)
A crew of approximately 20 employees were constructing hand lines when a dead tree collapsed and injured three of the employees, including two hospitalizations. One employee was hospitalized due to shoulder injuries, and the other employee was hospitalized due to collapsed lungs, spinal injuries, and a broken tibia and fibula.
An employee was cutting brush and shrubs. A bee stung the employee on the base of their neck. The employee sustained an allergic reaction and was hospitalized.
An employee was engaged in initial smokejumper training which includes physical fitness testing, tree climbing training, chainsaw and crosscut certification, as well as initial introduction to equipment and smokejumper-specific safety procedures. Some of the training involves carrying 110 pounds of equipment. The employee reported tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing. The employee was hospitalized with a lung injury.
An employee participated in smokejumper training, which includes carrying weight. He suffered from dehydration and was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis.
An employee was assisting with pre-welding setup on pile structures at the fuel dock worksite. They were working to operate a come-along to align a waler to the pile. Due to limited leverage and restricted positioning within the man basket of the crane, the employee exited the basket to manually adjust the waler from the structure itself. During the task, wave height and frequency increased. A large wave struck the area, causing the pile braces and walers to shift. The employee lost their footing and grabbed the production pile edge. Their fingers on one hand were crushed between two structural steel piles. The employee sustained an amputation to the fingers and was hospitalized.
An employee was in a tunnel freezer, which was being turned on for the first time. The baffling for the evaporator fan got stuck in the siding. The employee ascended a 5'9"-tall cart to reach the raised baffling panel. The raised baffling shifted and dropped, trapping the employee's arm between the aluminum and foam core baffling. The employee sustained a severe laceration to the lower forearm/upper wrist and severed ligaments. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was engaging in daily physical training in preparation for fire season as a smokejumper. The employee sustained swelling and stiffness in their arms and was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis.