Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC., 3801 S. OLIVER ST., WICHITA, KANSAS 67210
on — Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified, affecting the Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s).
Final narrative
An employee was installing a rail on a machine. The roller pack was locked up, causing the chuck to not move. While manually removing the chuck, the rails were damaged. As a result, both the roller pack and the rail needed to be replaced. A fixed magnet from above the rail pulled the rail up and rolled it, pinching the employee's thumb between the rail and the magnet when he tried to install the new rail back to the position. The right thumb tip was amputated.
Amputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Metal, woodworking, and special material machinery unspecified
A metal tooling base was being moved by a forklift when the load shifted. An employee who was assisting went to stabilize the load and prevent it from sliding off the forks. The C-channel of the base crushed the employee's left hand against the concrete ground, resulting in the amputation of their third and fourth fingers.
An employee was working on a tool platform (47.5" tall) and was transitioning around to the other side when they lost balance and fell to the concrete floor. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to seven ribs and their elbow.
An employee was working inside the access panel of a sliding door when the door began to shut. The employee's left middle finger was pulled into the chain and sprocket, resulting in amputation to the middle knuckle.
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 336413)
An employee was walking from one building to another when he slipped on wet concrete and fell. The employee was hospitalized with a fracture and dislocation of the right patella.
An employee was working inside the access panel of a sliding door when the door began to shut. The employee's left middle finger was pulled into the chain and sprocket, resulting in amputation to the middle knuckle.
An employee was aligning wedges to plate bolt holes on a press when the plate moved while his right index finger was in a hole. The employee sustained a partial amputation of the finger.
An employee was working to remove a product blockage from a piece of equipment. The employee was struck by a metal bar near the deck of the pin mixer equipment and sustained blunt force trauma to the torso.
An employee was moving a rack onto a lower conveyor in the south heat treat area when their finger got caught between the part tray and the rollers, resulting in a fingertip fracture and amputation.
An employee was climbing a ladder to get on top of the breakroom. The ladder slipped, causing him to fall to the ground. The employee sustained fractures to his upper back, left foot, and ankle.
Two employees were removing a circuit breaker. The injured employee was using wrenches in the removal process. One of the wrenches contacted an adjacent door, resulting in an arc flash. The employee suffered burns to their neck, face, and ear, as well as momentary vision loss due to the flash.
An employee bent over to pick up a rubber mat from the ground. When he grabbed the corner of the mat, a rattlesnake hidden under it bit his left middle finger near the first knuckle. He was hospitalized.