Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Fractures
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC, 228 South Main Street, SPRING GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA 17362
on — Fractures , affecting the Hand(s), finger(s) unspecified.
Final narrative
The injured employee was assisting another employee with a wheel turn up (changing papers) on a paper machine. The paper sheet was not following the new spool. The employees were using a 5-foot wooden pole to tuck. The pole hit a nip point, causing the end of the pole to whip and strike the injured employee's left hand. The employee sustained multiple fractures to their hand.
Hospitalized Hand(s), finger(s) unspecified Paper production machinery unspecified
More severe injuries at Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC
An employee was observing a troubleshooting event with a limit switch when hot pulping liquor overflowed from the screw conveyor in the digester basement, contacting the employee and resulting in thermal burns. The employee sustained first-degree burns to the back of their neck, shoulder, and upper back, as well as second-degree burns to their knees, legs, and pelvic area.
An employee was helping to guide the chuck of the core onto the paper reel when their left thumb became caught between the re-reeler and the paper core, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee was inspecting the tension on the top and bottom slitters of a machine. As he was manually spinning the bottom slitter, the blade contacted his right ring finger, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
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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 322121)
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An employee was working to clear a jam from a paper napkin folder. The ram that advanced the napkins pushed the employee's right arm into the side of the machine, causing several lacerations and a hairline fracture.
An employee was troubleshooting overflowing ink on a printer-slotter machine when their right ring fingertip was caught in a guarded roller, resulting in a partial amputation.
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An employee was carrying cups back to the kitchen when her foot got caught on a cart and she fell face-first. During the fall, a piece of glass from a cup cut the inside of her mouth, severing an artery. She also sustained a laceration on her lower lip. The employee was hospitalized.