Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Western Extrusions Corporation, 9000 River Road, PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY 08110
on — Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified, affecting the Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s).
Final narrative
An employee was removing the hook that was latched to the anchor point of the grabber. During that process, the grabber fell, flipped over, and the employee's hand got caught in the anchor point. The employee sustained amputation of his left ring fingertip.
Amputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Source, secondary source unspecified
More severe injuries at Western Extrusions Corporation
Two employees were changing a breaker. While they were reinstalling the cover, it touched a live incoming electrical line. One of the employees suffered burns to his hands; the other suffered flash burns to his face.
An employee was moving a cabinet using a cart. The cart hit an uneven floor surface and started to tip over. While the employee was trying to stop items from falling, his right ring fingertip was caught between the cabinet and the cart. The fingertip was amputated.
An employee was helping a saw operator cut scrap aluminum by pushing aluminum profiles along a roller table into a saw. Starting the saw also activated a clamp to hold the material to be cut; the clamp forced the material down onto the employee's hand, which was pinned between the material and the table. He suffered a partial amputation to the left ring fingertip.
An employee was removing the straps from a load on a flatbed 18-wheeler. As the employee removed the last two straps, two bundles of aluminum extrusion (30 feet long, weighing 866 and 699 pounds) fell from the side of the load and struck him. He suffered severe fractures to the right leg, as well as fissures to his vertebrae.
An employee was moving metal billets onto a load table with an overhead crane. The employee's fingers were caught between two billets, causing the amputation of the right fourth and fifth fingers.
A crew was installing drilled micropiles alongside an outdoor covered deck foundation. The injured employee was working the front of the drill when a loose section of casing dropped onto the tip of a rig wrench and pulled the wrench down to an embedded casing. The employee's left little finger was caught between the rig wrench and the embedded casing and was amputated above the top knuckle.
An employee was checking a pole-type transformer tank for leaks. A hydraulic clamping device was lowered onto his right thumb and crushed it against the sharp edge of the bottom of the tank. He suffered a partial transphalangeal amputation to the thumb.
An employee had been cleaning the work area. While lifting a saw, the employee's index finger was lacerated by the saw blade. A tendon was cut and required surgery.
An employee was installing a hydraulic extension cylinder in a tow truck when their leg was caught between the cylinder and the truck frame. The employee was hospitalized with a broken tibia, which required surgery.
An employee was sorting sucker rods. His right hand was caught in the area where the rod hits up against the frame and his index fingertip was amputated just below the nail.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 331318)
An employee was adjusting a stretcher. Their foot went between a 3-inch opening on a press. The employee sustained an open fracture of their lower left leg above the ankle.
An employee was standing at a press machine, removing metal from a die cradle that was stuck. Once the metal was removed, the side die closed on his right wrist and lower forearm, breaking bones in the arm.
An employee was pulling metal using a tail stretcher. He pressed the double palm buttons to start the process when the clamp became stuck. The employee pulled on the metal. His left thumb was inside the clamp when it opened, cutting and amputating the tip of his thumb.
An employee was operating a 2 1/2 inch extruder press when aluminum became jammed in the press. Pressure built up and the piece of aluminum shot into the employee's left index finger, resulting in hospitalization and surgery.
An employee was installing fence posts when they stepped into a recently dug hole that was not visible due to rainfall. The employee's leg was fractured.
An employee assisted in cleaning material from a conveyor pit. After the pit was cleaned, the employee proceeded to replace metal safety plates to ensure other employees did not fall into the pit. While replacing one of the last plates, the employee mis-stepped and fell approximately 5 feet into the pit. The employee was hospitalized with back/side bruising, elbow bruising, bone bruises, and/or fractured ribs.
An employee was walking on the sidewalk. When they stepped off the curb, they fell to the ground, resulting in fractures to their tibia, fibula, and a metatarsal.