CHS Refinery at McPherson KS

On March 31, 2025, an employee approached a slow-moving rolling machine from behind, then slipped and came into contact with the rear wheel of the machine. The employee was hospitalized with fractures to their ankle and pelvis.

An employee fell while exiting a trailer. The employee landed on their left side on the pavement, suffering multiple broken ribs on the left side. The employee was hospitalized.

A driver was exiting his vehicle outside the plant gate when his foot slipped on the top step of the truck. He fell to the ground, landed on his left hip and elbow. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured hip/femur.

Two employees were removing a service lift platform from the back of a radar system. While handling the service lift platform, employee 2 was standing on the back of the radar and lost their footing, causing the service lift platform to shift and fall. The injured employee then fell from the top of the platform electronic subsystem (PES) to the floor, approximately 56 inches. The injured employee fractured his left elbow and left hip.

An employee fell from a loading dock to the ground 2-3 feet below. She suffered a compound fracture of the left hip and was hospitalized, requiring surgery.

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 ascending an 8-foot aluminum extension ladder to access and replace a hypochlorite pump located on top of a 7-foot chemical tank. When he reached approximately 5 feet on the ladder, the ladder shifted and twisted to the right. The employee fell from the ladder and landed on his right side. The employee sustained a compound fracture to his right leg just above the ankle, dislocation of his shoulder, and a torn rotator cuff. The employee was hospitalized.

An employee was taking a butane gas sample as part of the hydrocarbon refining process. A component disconnected and the butane ignited, resulting in first- and second-degree burns to the employee's forearms and to their face, including their cheeks, chin, and neck.

An employee was driving a carry deck/small crane when its boom made contact with an overhead support beam. The employee was jostled in the cab and suffered a concussion.

An employee was inventorying hammer mill screens when the screens fell on the employee. The employee sustained a laceration to their leg requiring hospitalization.

An ironworker was maneuvering a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) into position to install a structural beam. The employee was pinned between another structural steel beam that was already installed and the MEWP control box cover. The employee was hospitalized with a laceration to their lip, dislodged teeth, and a fractured jaw.

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.