Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Tropicana Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1001 13TH AVENUE EAST, BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34208
on — Fractures, affecting the lower leg(s).
Final narrative
An employee was driving a golf cart when its left leaf spring cracked, causing the cart to abruptly turn left into a nearby ditch. The employee suffered three fractures in his right leg below the knee, as well as severe lacerations on his head and forehead.
HospitalizedLower leg(s)Golf cart, personnel transport cart
More severe injuries at Tropicana Manufacturing Company, Inc.
An employee was troubleshooting to determine why a pallet was not traveling along a continuous vertical conveyor. The conveyor's rollers caused a crushing/laceration injury to the employee's right hand that required surgery.
An employee was changing out a hose on a chemical tote. The fitting for the tote disengaged and the employee was exposed to peracetic acid that caused chemical burns and respiratory distress.
The injured employee entered the first level of gravity-feed racking in a cold room to free a stuck pallet of product. A forklift operator used another pallet to free the stuck pallet from the feed side of the lane. All the other pallets in the lane then moved forward, pinching the injured employee's ankle.
On November 17, 2023, an employee was unloading a trailer using a forklift when the truck drove away, causing the employee and the forklift to drop to the ground. The employee suffered back injuries that required hospitalization.
An employee was operating a forklift to unload a truck when the truck pulled away. The forklift and the employee fell approximately 3.5 feet. The employee sustained fractures to the arm and neck as well as a head contusion.
An employee was moving a scissor lift onto a loading dock ramp when the lift fell over the side of the ramp with the employee in it. They sustained rib fractures.
An employee was operating a forklift and unloading a trailer when the trailer pulled away from the dock. The forklift rolled backward and fell out of the trailer. The employee sustained head trauma and a back injury.
An employee was operating an excavator on the side wall of a trench when the side wall collapsed. The excavator fell approximately 8 feet into the trench and landed on top of a fuel tank. The employee sustained fractures to the clavicle, wrist, and ribs, as well as left wrist lacerations.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 311411)
An employee was troubleshooting to determine why a pallet was not traveling along a continuous vertical conveyor. The conveyor's rollers caused a crushing/laceration injury to the employee's right hand that required surgery.
An employee was operating a pallet end rider when it struck a rack. The employee's right foot was pinned and fractured between the forklift and the rack.
An employee was putting a machine guard back onto a chain and sprocket when their left middle finger became caught in the chain and sprocket. The employee sustained an amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was changing out a hose on a chemical tote. The fitting for the tote disengaged and the employee was exposed to peracetic acid that caused chemical burns and respiratory distress.
An employee was helping to dismantle an old piece of equipment (descrambled bottle machine) when a metal plate fell and pinched his left middle finger against the wall. The employee sustained a severe laceration that required surgery and amputation.
An employee was helping a coworker transport a tall palm tree with a mini skid steer. The employee was severely shocked by a high-voltage electrical wire above the ground.
An employee was retrieving a Christmas tree from a shelf using a ladder. He missed a step and fell to the concrete floor. He sustained injury to his head and wrist.
An employee was operating an agricultural tractor during sugarcane harvesting. The employee sustained a lumbar sprain due to vibration or motion from the tractor.
An employee was moving a 3-ton condensing unit, strapped down on a dolly, out of a garage. The strap broke, causing the employee to fall backward onto the brick pavered driveway. The employee suffered injury to a spinal ligament in the neck.