Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at United Liquid Waste Recycling, Inc., N2797 Wisconsin 26, WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN 53098
on — Amputations, affecting the finger(s), fingernail(s), unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was using a metal stake and hammer to strike the channels of a baler to allow room for wiring to go through while in operation. Their glove and tool became caught by the baler. The baler moved down and pressed on the metal tool, pinching the employee's left little and ring fingers. The little finger required medical amputation.
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 333318)
An employee was pushing metal sheets through a plate roller when the roller caught his gloves and his hands were pulled into the roller. The employee was hospitalized and required surgical amputation of two fingers on his left hand and surgery on two fingers on his right hand.
An employee was prepping a dip pot for cleanout. He was moving a utility cart into position. While moving the dip pot onto the cart, hot weatherstripping product spilled out of the pot and onto the employee's hand. The employee sustained burns to his left hand and wrist requiring hospitalization.
An employee was forming a part to put in the bin when her hand became caught in the die of the press. Two fingers were crushed. The employee sustained amputations of their right index and middle fingers at the joint closest to the fingertips.
The injured employee was assisting five other employees with bracing a wall panel that was being stood up. Another employee slipped on frost on the floor surface. The employees went to evacuate the area in anticipation of the wall panel falling over. The injured employee went to jump through a window opening within the wall panel and their lower half was crushed by the falling wall panel. The employee sustained a fractured pelvis.
An employee was using a vertical band saw to cut a thick piece of rubber material. While being cut, the material shifted, causing the employee s right hand to contact the moving blade. The employee's thumb was amputated below the knuckle. The employee was hospitalized, undergoing surgery.
A production sanitation employee was pre-rinsing an incline conveyor and noticed cheese stuck between the belt idler. The employee went to remove the cheese and their glove got caught and pulled their left forearm into the conveyor. The employee's arm was fractured. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.
An employee was on a ladder, taking measurements for a new gutter installation. The ladder slipped out from under him and both he and the ladder fell to the ground. He was hospitalized with seven broken ribs and a broken clavicle.
An employee was unloading a truck for a delivery job. While moving boxes in the truck, the employee tripped over a pallet and fell out of the truck to the ground, resulting in four broken ribs.