Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center

On the morning of July 24, 2025, an employee was conducting synthesis of a highly toxic experimental chemical (nerve agent) in a chemical fume hood. The operation was completed at approximately 11:30 AM. The employee was exposed to the chemical and began experiencing symptoms of illness/poisoning around 1:30 PM and was hospitalized.

On March 5, 2025, a nurse was caring for patients in the emergency department when she was exposed to norovirus and rhinovirus. The employee tested positive for norovirus and rhinovirus and was hospitalized.

An employee was removing a carbon dioxide line when red liquid was found on the ground. The employee reported a "red spot" on their left wrist, inside elbow, and chest after washing down the spill. The employee experiencing escalation of symptoms, including a rash/burn on their arms and respiratory symptoms after the shift. The employee was hospitalized with chemical pneumonitis, chemical dermatitis, and chemical asthma exacerbation.

Employees were pulling a chemical sample from a device (sample port). The sample wouldn't come out because there were two samples in the port. The employees then turned off and deenergized the machine to 0 pounds per square inch. They unscrewed the top of the machine to retrieve the stuck samples when a small amount of pressure caused liquid to squirt out and onto one of the employee's face shields as the lid was removed. The employee was hospitalized due to chemical exposure.

An employee was pressure washing a vacuum box when she began feeling ill, nauseous, and developed a headache, elevated heart rate, and chills. The employee was hospitalized due to possible benzene exposure. The employee was wearing PPE at the time.

An employee tripped over a stool and fell on the floor, resulting in a left displaced mid-cervical femoral neck fracture.

An employee slipped while descending in a stairwell, fell, and suffered multiple contusions/bruises to the head, neck, shoulders, knees, and back. She was hospitalized.

An employee slipped on water in a hospital hallway, fell, and landed on his left hip. He suffered a contusion and fracture to the hip.

An employee slipped on condensation on a walkway in a parking garage. She fell and suffered a closed fracture to the neck of the left femur.

A security employee was responding to an urgent call from staff regarding a violent patient. The employee tripped and fell on the floor outside of the stairwell. The employee sustained a closed head injury, contusion of the cerebrum without loss of consciousness, and a closed fracture of the distal end of the right radius.

An employee was moving a tensile strength test device with a dolly. The device fell from the dolly onto the employee's right leg, causing a compound fracture.

An employee was walking past a crossover conveyor when a ramp came down and hit them in the back. The employee sustained a broken back vertebra, as well as a concussion, and was hospitalized.

An employee was using a hook tool to pull a pallet onto the lift gate of a tractor trailer. The hook detached from the underside of the pallet, causing the employee to fall backward off the lift gate. The employee landed on the concrete parking lot about 5 feet below, suffering fractures to the skull and two thoracic vertebrae.

A skid loader backed over an employee's leg, breaking it.

An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.