Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire · Thermal burns degree unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Gaeta Recycling Co., Inc., 278 West Railway Ave., PATERSON, NEW JERSEY 07503
on — Thermal burns degree unspecified, affecting the Multiple regions of the head.
Final narrative
A Gaeta Recycling employee was standing at an exit from a trash-baling chamber, installing a trash bag on a chute. A propane tank, hidden in a pile of garbage, entered the baler chamber, where it exploded under pressure. The employee suffered head and face burns.
Hospitalized Multiple regions of the head Propane tanks and cylinders
A driver was training on a truck when he was pinned between the truck forks and the compactor being delivered. The employee sustained a fractured tibia and fibula.
While engaged in sanitation collection, the employee was struck by a motor vehicle. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery for compound fractures to the lower right leg/foot.
An employee was emptying a 4-yard garbage dumpster. The employee's right middle finger became wedged between the garbage container and the garbage truck, suffering a partial amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was cleaning up the recycling area and was walking backwards when he was struck by a mini-loader. The employee fell and the loader ran over his left foot, fracturing it.
An employee was conducting torching operations using oxygen and propane to cut metal beams within the recycling laydown area. The employee used a hose with an air chuck connection to fill up the yard pickup truck's back tire with oxygen. The tire blew up which caused the oxygen to ignite. The employee sustained fractures, internal injuries, burns, and lacerations.
An employee was replacing a tire on a wheelbarrow when the tire exploded. The employee sustained fractures to his right hand and an abrasion to the right side of his face. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery on his right hand.
An employee was checking the pressure gauge on a unit from a step stool. As he was stepping down, the ball valve ruptured and grazed the side of his left hand. The employee was hospitalized with an injury to the hand near the thumb and required surgery.
A mechanic was changing out an air spring on a concrete mixer truck cab. The air spring was receiving higher air pressure than it was designed to use, because of a faulty level check valve. This increased pressure caused the air spring to burst. Its top portion separated and struck the employee's left forearm, causing a laceration and fracture. The employee was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was hydro testing and pressurizing a pipe when it blew. The lid struck the employee, causing a gash to his elbow and injury to his abdominal area that required surgery.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 562111)
An employee was operating the compaction levers on a truck when a motor vehicle crashed into the back of the stopped truck. The employee sustained fractured ribs and contusions.
A maintenance employee was moving a forklift from the loading dock when the forklift fell off the dock. The employee was struck by the overhead portion of the roll bar, injuring his right knee. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery.
An employee was standing on the driver side rear step of a trash truck while traveling down a road to collect residential trash. The employee went to signal the driver and slipped off the step while the truck was traveling 8-9 miles per hour. He fell 18 inches to the ground and was hospitalized with a fractured ankle that required 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.