Caught, entangled in running powered equipment normal operation · Amputations involving bone loss
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at 3M Healthcare, 601 22nd Avenue South, BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57006
on — Amputations involving bone loss, affecting the Thumb(s).
Final narrative
An employee was grinding a burr off a piece of stainless steel using a 12-inch stationary disc sander when his right thumb contacted the sanding disc, resulting in amputation at the first knuckle.
An employee was operating a metal roller machine to roll a small piece of metal. The employee's right index finger became caught between the metal and the machine, and the fingertip was amputated.
An employee was working on a production line. The employee went to retrieve parts that came out of the parts holder, and their left hand became caught between a chain and a sprocket. Three fingers on the hand were amputated.
An employee was hooking up bundled tie-downs with a chain. While he was holding a hook, the other hook was unlocked. This caused the employee's hook to slide down and pinch his right index finger between the chain and the shackle. He suffered an amputation to the fingertip (without bone loss), as well as an open fracture.
An employee was operating a pad printer. The employee's finger was caught in the printer and they suffered a fingertip amputation. The part of the printer that caught the employee's finger was unguarded at the time.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 322222)
An employee was clearing a clog in the glue gun machine. When the clog cleared, his left index finger struck the fan blade, resulting in medical amputation.
An employee was operating a clamp truck to transport material to a workstation from the rear of the warehouse. The forklift was traveling near the rear baler area when another employee stepped into its path and the front right tire ran over his left foot. Their left foot and toes were crushed resulting in a dislocation and broken bones, as well as a laceration to the foot.
On December 16, 2022, an employee was feeding a book through a machine and guiding the wire when their left index finger was amputated at the first knuckle.
Employees were working to install a hydraulic cylinder into a press. A forklift was being used to lift the cylinder. The injured employee was guiding the cylinder to a pallet when the straps flipped and the cylinder dropped onto the pallet and the employee's right foot. The employee sustained a foot injury.
An employee was moving a tensile strength test device with a dolly. The device fell from the dolly onto the employee's right leg, causing a compound fracture.
An employee was walking past a crossover conveyor when a ramp came down and hit them in the back. The employee sustained a broken back vertebra, as well as a concussion, and was hospitalized.
An employee was using a hook tool to pull a pallet onto the lift gate of a tractor trailer. The hook detached from the underside of the pallet, causing the employee to fall backward off the lift gate. The employee landed on the concrete parking lot about 5 feet below, suffering fractures to the skull and two thoracic vertebrae.
An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.