Caught or wedged between objects nonrunning · Amputations involving bone loss
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at SOUTHWEST STEEL PROCESSING, LLC, 2801 Van Dyke Rd, NEWPORT, ARKANSAS 72112
on — Amputations involving bone loss, affecting the Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s).
Final narrative
An employee was attempting to remove bolts from the dye machine on the main press line using a torque wrench. When the trigger was pressed, their right index finger got caught between the tool and the surface of the machine, resulting in amputation at the first knuckle.
Amputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Stamping machinery, presses except printing
More severe injuries at SOUTHWEST STEEL PROCESSING, LLC
An employee was cutting bands off steel billets when a 20-foot long billet rolled and landed on their right lower leg, resulting in a compound fracture.
An employee was using a ratchet puller to remove a clutch plate off a press while standing on a 10-foot portable ladder when he fell to the ground below, fracturing his left heel and right ankle.
An employee climbed a ladder to put a chain on the trim press. On the way up the ladder, the employee opened the electrical box of the trim press to make sure nothing was wrong with the electrical box. He did not close the door of the electrical box after checking it, but continued up the ladder to replace the chain. On the way down the ladder, after he changed the chain, the employee grazed the electrical box with his shoulder, shocking him and causing him to fall approximately six feet.
An employee was changing a die in a press when the die slipped and crushed the employee's left index finger. The employee sustained an open facture of the tuft of the left distal phalanx and a partial amputation.
An employee was diagnosing the lack of flow of product to a powder bin. The employee removed the rotary star valve below the bin. While he was reinstalling the valve, his right middle finger was crushed between its shaft and its housing. The finger was partially amputated.
On October 30, 2025, an employee was working to adjust a stackable metal shipping container. As the container dropped into place, it caught the employee's hands in an area between the upper and lower cross-members. The employee suffered a laceration to the left ring finger that required stitches, bruising to the right ring finger, and fractures to the right middle finger that necessitated medical amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was changing the spacing on a telehandler's forks. A fork slipped, and the employee's left index finger was caught between it and the mast. The fingertip was medically amputated at the first knuckle.
An employee was conducting routine maintenance on a mixer. New lid pins had been installed, and the employee was rotating by hand to ensure they had been installed correctly. The employee's left middle finger was caught between the lid and top of a pin. The momentum from the mixer continued, causing a crushing injury to the finger. The employee underwent a medical amputation from the top knuckle to the tip of the finger.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 331111)
An employee used a crane to set down a bar. The bar measured 9 inches by 16 feet. The strap got stuck under the bar, and the employee asked another employee to jog the roll. The bar rolled and pinched the injured employee's left hand, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
An employee was loading a steel forming machine with steel to be processed. He went to move a cooling hose out of the way and his left thumb was crushed by the forming roller, resulting in injuries that required surgical amputation.
An employee was advancing a rail to line up for welding with a secondary rail on the weld line when his right middle and ring fingers were caught between the rails. The employee sustained an amputation to the top knuckle of the middle finger and a fracture to the ring finger. The machine was guarded at the time.
An employee was preparing bundles of 24-foot square metal tubing to be loaded onto a truck and cut the safety band for a bundle. While the employee was removing a piece of dunnage from a bundle, they bumped the bundle with their leg. The metal tubing then fell forward and struck the employee, causing a fractured left ankle.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.