Struck against moving part of machinery or equipment · Avulsions, enucleations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Gerber Products Co., 4301 Harriet Ave, FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72904
on — Avulsions, enucleations, affecting the hand(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
On October 18, 2022, at approximately 4:45 p.m., an employee was attempting to retrieve a glass jar of product that had fallen between a transition point of two conveyors. The employee's right hand made contact with the conveyor belt, causing the skin on the top of their hand to be removed. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was working on the caser line in the packaging area adjusting the caser machine. In the process of moving away from the caser machine, the employee was knocked down by an oncoming forklift delivering a load of materials in the packaging area. The employee hit his head on the concrete floor and was hospitalized for a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain.
An employee was operating a strip saw. As the employee shut off the saw, their right index and middle fingertips were amputated by the blade before it came to a complete stop.
An employee was using a table saw to cut a piece of wood for wall framing. The wood jumped, causing the employee's hand to move toward the saw, amputating their left index finger and causing a laceration on their hand.
An employee was operating a trim saw. While trying to free a jammed board she had just cut, she came into contact with the running saw blade, which amputated her right thumb.
An employee was preparing for a clean-in-place (CIP) process and removed a cap from a pipe to connect another pipe. Hot water (approximately 170 degrees) splashed onto the employee, causing burns to her hands, left forearm, and both thighs.
An employee was checking an inline magnet. The magnet was placed on a cart next to another magnet and the magnets moved toward each other. The employee's right ring fingertip was caught and amputated.
An employee was walking near a spring-mounted valve when the valve opened. Steam was released and burned the employee's arm, resulting in hospitalization.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.