Caught, entangled in running powered equipment normal operation · Amputations involving bone loss
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Planters Cotton Oil Mill, Inc., 2901 Planters Dr, PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS 71601
on — Amputations involving bone loss, affecting the Thumb(s).
Final narrative
An employee was operating a cyclone machine and noticed cotton hanging under the machine. As the employee went to remove it, his right thumb contacted moving parts. The employee sustained an amputation of the right distal phalanx of the thumb.
An employee was testing a limit switch on a bale bagger. The bagger was activated and moved forward about 9 inches, pinning the employee's right hand. He was hospitalized with a broken thumb and a laceration to the hand.
An employee working next to the filter house was blowing down a fan slab under the filter house hopper when his jacket sleeve became tangled in a rotating shaft, pulling his left arm into the shaft. He suffered a mangled left hand, wrist, and forearm.
A temporary employee was cleaning the discharge chute on a seed cleaner when his hand came into contact with the moving chain, lacerating his right index and middle fingers and fracturing his index finger. He was hospitalized.
An employee was making adjustments on a saw gummer when it caught his jacket and pulled his left hand into the machine. He suffered a traumatic left hand injury.
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 311223)
An employee was testing a limit switch on a bale bagger. The bagger was activated and moved forward about 9 inches, pinning the employee's right hand. He was hospitalized with a broken thumb and a laceration to the hand.
Two employees were working on a 600-amp breaker. One employee suffered an electrical shock and burns to his face, head, upper torso, and his left hand due to an arc flash.
Employees were unbinding a gondola cart door using a front-end loader. The gondola cart door sprung open and struck the employee in the upper back and neck area.
While working in a oil mill, an employee stepped on a screw conveyor belt cover. The cover shifted, causing the employee to fall into the conveyor belt and resulting in a left ankle amputation.
An employee was repairing the drive unit on a lint beater. The machine was reactivated and its belt caught the employee's right ring finger, causing the amputation of the fingertip.
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.