Struck by dislodged flying object, particle · Fractures
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at PYCO Industries, Inc., 2901 Ave. A, LUBBOCK, TEXAS 79404
on — Fractures, affecting the lower leg(s).
Final narrative
Employees were using a bucket loader to pull a forklift out of mud. The strap being used to pull the forklift snapped, and a hook on it struck one employee's left shin, causing an open fracture.
An employee was clearing a jam in a hammer mill located in the lint room when his right hand got caught in the machine, resulting in an injury to the soft tissue of his hand. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.
An employee was pulling a basket out of the extractor when his right pinky finger was caught between the wall and the basket, amputating 1/2-inch of the fingertip.
An employee was tossing a damaged toilet into a compactor. The toilet bounced off the compactor and lacerated the employee's right wrist, cutting an artery and tendon.
An employee was operating a hydraulic jack to bend a frame when the jack came loose and struck the employee. They were hospitalized for a spleen injury.
A truck had been towed into the shop with a flat tire and a blown airbag. An employee checked the tire for damage and was airing the tire. The employee was installing the valve core when the bead slipped off the rim. Air escaped, and the aluminum wheel struck the employee's head and face. The employee became unresponsive and was bleeding.
On December 14, 2023, at 8:40 p.m., three employees were inspecting milling machines for startup. A few of the sleeves on the mill drum needed to be changed out. The injured employee was trying to input a sleeve on the mill drum using a hammer. The hammer hit the edge of the drum, which caused a metal piece to splinter off and strike the employee's cheek just below the left eye. The metal splinter embedded in the back of their eye socket, resulting in pain, swelling, and bleeding that required hospitalization.
An employee was pushing a line of carts into a vestibule when the door cable snapped and struck his right ankle. The employee suffered a fracture that required surgery and hospitalization.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 111191)
An employee was clearing a jam in a hammer mill located in the lint room when his right hand got caught in the machine, resulting in an injury to the soft tissue of his hand. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.
An employee was repositioning a 55-gallon oil drum when his left little finger was caught between the drum and the enclosed belt conveyor frame. He suffered an amputation to the fingertip.
An employee was working on a delinting machine when a newly added belt caused the machine to begin wobbling. The employee turned off the machine and tried to remove the belt, which caught and broke the employee's right ring finger.
An employee was changing out the saw cylinder on a de-linter machine when a helper accidentally bumped the hydraulic lever that controls the door. The door closed on the employee's right index finger, causing deep lacerations that required surgery and hospitalization.
After cutting a slab of beef short ribs, an employee turned to grab the pieces he had cut and his right hand contacted the saw blade. The employee sustained an amputation to his right index finger.
An employee was unloading a carpet pad from a truck when they fell from the truck dock to the concrete below, resulting in five fractured ribs and an injury to their left lung.
An employee was walking up a walkway to enter a building through the back entrance when she tripped over the lip of the cement ramp. The employee fell and sustained a fractured right hip.