Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Amputations involving bone loss
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Southwark Metal Manufacturing Co., 2073 North Radenmakers Way, FREMONT, NEBRASKA 68025
on — Amputations involving bone loss, affecting the Other finger(s) n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was unscrewing fasteners to remove the guarding for a roll former machine to expose two sets of rollers. The employee then placed a flathead screwdriver perpendicular against the edge of one of the wheels in the set furthest away from his position to remove galvanized build-up. During this process, the screwdriver hit the wheel and was pulled into the rollers pinning the employee's left ring finger between the screwdriver handle and the machine. The shaft of the screwdriver then broke, releasing the employee's finger. The employee suffered a soft tissue injury and amputation of the left fourth digit. The machine was powered and operating at the time.
Amputation Other finger(s) n.e.c. Rolling mills, rolling, calendering machinery
More severe injuries at Southwark Metal Manufacturing Co.
A driver was reseating a seated rack in a trailer. As the rack cup was seated onto the post, the palm side of the employee's right little finger was caught between the two. The employee suffered an avulsion to the finger and was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was performing diagnostics on an automatic elbow machine when the forming piece that runs around in a channel severed the tip of his left middle finger, resulting in an amputation.
An employee was loading a piece of sheet metal onto a shear. The material clamping device came down on the employee's left middle finger, causing the amputation of the fingertip and the fingernail.
An employee was operating a duct line. As the employee was adjusting the feed, the duct line amputated his right little finger. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.
A temporary employee turned off a planer machine, opened the housing, and began clearing a jam. The machine's spinning blade caught his right hand and degloved the index finger.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.
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.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 332322)
An employee was driving a forklift when its right front wheel dropped off a 6-inch curb. The forklift rolled over and trapped him against the concrete surface. He suffered a broken pelvis, ribs, and collarbone, as well as a collapsed lung.
An employee was operating a brake press when the top die broke, causing the bottom die to roll out and onto the employee's legs. Both of the employee's legs were crushed below the knee, and both legs were partially amputated. The employee's left leg was also fractured above the knee.
An employee was performing routine maintenance on a shear machine when the machine's foot pedal was engaged and the blade contacted his right middle finger, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was helping to tighten down a metal packaging band for shipping. The metal band broke and struck the employee across their face, cutting their left face/eye area. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.