Struck by running powered equipment irregular movement, kick back · Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC, 420 Southwell Blvd., TIFTON, GEORGIA 31794
on — Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries, affecting the Multiple arm locations.
Final narrative
An employee entered an interlocking gate to adjust a part when the gate malfunctioned and the brake press crushed his right arm up to the elbow. The employee was hospitalized and underwent surgery on his arm with multiple fractures. Later the employee underwent another surgery where his arm was amputated below the elbow due to complications.
Hospitalized Multiple arm locations Stamping machinery, presses except printing
More severe injuries at Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC
An employee was doing brazing work on a copper line, part of a commercial refrigeration unit that was charged with propane. A blockage in one of the tubes resulted in a flame blowback. The employee suffered second-degree burns to the left side of the face and neck area. They were hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was drilling holes in copper tubing while wearing gloves. As she moved a part into position and began lowering the drill head, her right hand bumped the drill bit, which caught the fabric of the glove and pulled her right hand into the bit. The drill bit deeply lacerated her middle finger and partially amputated her pinky and index fingers.
An employee was cutting a board using a circular saw. The saw pinched, kicked back, and cut the employee's left ring and little fingers. The employee suffered an amputation to the little finger.
An employee was cutting wood with a circular saw. The saw kicked back, and its blade cut three fingers on the employee's right hand, resulting in an amputation.
An employee was doing a cutback on a piece of lumber using a chop saw. The saw hit a knot, the piece of lumber buckled, then kicked back and broke the kickback guard. The board was then pulled back into the blade, which lacerated the employee's left index and middle fingers.
An employee was cutting wood with a circular saw. The machine lagged and cut the employee's finger. The employee required surgical amputation of the finger at the hospital.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 333415)
An employee was helping to move a 1,300-pound coil on a cart. The steel caster hit a crack in the concrete, the weld holding the caster onto the cart broke, and the coil and cart tipped over onto the employee. He was hospitalized with a laceration on his forehead and a pelvic fracture on his right side.
An employee was observing expansion rods on a coil expander going into a coil to ensure copper stubs weren't being bent. His left hand was caught between the locking block and locking block clamp on the power press machine, resulting in partial amputation of his left little finger from the distal interphalangeal joint.
An employee was setting up a press brake and rolling over a die when the tip of their left little finger was caught between the horizontal working surface of the press brake and die. The employee sustained partial amputation of their fingertip.
An employee was working to remove an access panel to begin performing maintenance on a machine. The set pins on the bottom of the panel were broken. The bottom kicked out and fell, striking the employee's left foot and resulting in a fracture to the big toe.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
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.