Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Fractures and dislocations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at WM RECYCLE AMERICA, L.L.C., 84 Birnie Avenue, SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 01107
on — Fractures and dislocations, affecting the shoulder(s) and arm(s).
Final narrative
On September 26, 2022, an employee was on a step ladder to adjust a belt tail pulley on a commingle machine. Momentum from the adjustment caused the employee to slip on the ladder. He attempted to brace himself and his arm was pulled into the machine's rotating belt. The employee sustained a degloving injury and fracture to the right forearm, as well as a dislocation of the right shoulder.
HospitalizedShoulder(s) and arm(s)Special process machinery, n.e.c.
More severe injuries at WM RECYCLE AMERICA, L.L.C.
An employee was cutting off bracing from an 8 x 12' metal wall when the wall fell, striking the employee on their side and back. The employee sustained bruised ribs and two fractures in their back.
Two employees were repairing the hydraulic engagement pins on a rented front-end wheel loader. The machine controls were activated to move the attachment pins and an employee's finger was caught between the pins and the bushings. Their right index finger was partially amputated.
An employee was cleaning the conveyor on a piece of equipment when they slipped and their right hand was pulled into the chain sprocket. The employee's fifth fingertip was amputated.
An employee was throwing blankets onto a blanket folding and stacking machine. A blanket got stuck in the machine and she attempted to remove it when the machine contacted her right little finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 562998)
An employee was performing maintenance on a hopper. The employee's hand was caught in a cylinder pivot point area when the pneumatic cylinder released trapped air. The cylinder crushed the employee's left little finger, causing the partial amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was opening a door to a semi trailer at the facility and his hand was caught between the door and another parked semi. The employee's left index finger was fractured and thumb muscles were injured. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
An employee was removing residual meat particles from the sprocket of the crossover conveyor belt in the packing area. While doing so, the conveyor started and his fingers were caught between the metal framework and the belt, resulting in amputations to the middle and ring fingers on the left hand as well as skin damage to the right hand.
An employee was unloading vehicles. While unloading a van, the brakes failed and the vehicle rolled off the car hauler and ran over the employee. The employee was hospitalized for a lower left leg fracture.
An employee was servicing the compactor. They were reconnecting the turnbuckle on a receiver box when the turnbuckle slipped and fell, crushing the employee's left middle fingertip. The employee was hospitalized for surgery.
An employee fell while exiting a trailer. The employee landed on their left side on the pavement, suffering multiple broken ribs on the left side. The employee was hospitalized.
Two employees were setting up a mandrel in the spindle of a machine. The mandrel was side-shifted while an employee's hand was on the mast of a powered industrial truck. The employee suffered crushing injuries that resulted in amputations to the middle and ring fingertips.
An employee had been loading a double deck press. The employee saw a mold had been sent in with the C-hook still attached on the belly bar. As he went to remove the hook from the mold, his right thumb got caught on the C-hook. The employee's thumb was partially amputated.
An employee was operating a roller and paving a small pathway next to a pavilion. The ground was on a slight pitch, causing him to reach up toward the roll cage to stabilize himself. His right fifth finger was pinched between the roll cage and the rafter of the pavilion. The employee sustained a partial degloving injury with partial traumatic amputation.
An employee was delivering home heating fuel when bees came from the ground and stung the employee's face, neck, torso, and hands. The employee proceeded to shut off the oil flow before losing consciousness. They were hospitalized due to an anaphylactic reaction.