Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at CHS, 215 Elevator Avenue, NORMA, NORTH DAKOTA 58746
on — Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries, affecting the Thumb(s).
Final narrative
An employee was trying to unclog a grain chute when a solenoid on a metal gate failed, causing it to slam shut on their thumb. The employee suffered crush injuries that required surgery.
An employee was unloading air tubes while approximately 3 feet off the ground when he fell to the ground and landed on his back, resulting in a fracture in his back.
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 493130)
An employee was helping clean the bag house. He checked under the auger in the dust collection system to feel for airflow. His right hand was sucked up into the auger blade, resulting in amputation of the middle finger to the distal joint. Surgery was required to amputate to the finger to the second knuckle.
On August 22, 2025, an employee was working to remove a blockage of grain from a spout in the basement. The gate was manually closed from the floor above to stop the flow of grain to the leg. The gate closed down on the employee, causing the amputation of their left middle fingertip.
An employee was walking with a pole hand tool when he slipped on fertilizer product that was on the floor and fell backward. The employee sustained fractured ribs and a collapsed right lung.
On June 22, 2025, at approximately 4:30 PM, an employee was working in a field with knife-style anhydrous applicator equipment used to fertilize corn. The employee inhaled anhydrous ammonia. The employee had difficulty breathing and speaking. They were hospitalized with a respiratory tract injury/irritation.
An employee was on the ground working to close a trailer door. The door was caught by the wind and blew the employee backward. He landed on his back and sustained four fractured ribs, requiring hospitalization.
An employee was walking on top of boiler to close a valve. The employee fell off the boiler and landed on the floor, sustaining fractured ribs. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was exiting a loader and coming down the ladder. His hand slipped off the railing and he fell backward onto sandy ground, landing on his side. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis and a rotator cuff tear.