Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Hitachi Energy USA Inc., 500 W Highway 94, JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI 65101
on — Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified, affecting the Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s).
Final narrative
An employee was assembling a transformer by putting a coil that is suspended by a crane into the metal transformer housing on the ground. To prevent the coil from touching the housing, sheets of cardboard are placed between the coils and housing. During this process, the employee's finger was caught between one of the sheets and the housing as the transformer was being hoisted off the ground. This resulted in amputation of the tip of the employee's right thumb.
Amputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Cranes unspecified
An employee was installing a cooling radiator on a large electric transformer when their right thumb was pinched between the bottom of the radiator and the mounting flange, resulting in the partial amputation of their right thumb tip.
An employee was repairing the axle on a transfer cart while it was suspended in the air by a forklift. The cart slid off the forklift and landed on the employee's right hand, resulting in crush injuries.
An employee was operating a wire rope cutter. As he tried to remove a wire spool, his finger was caught in a pinch point. An arm (which held the wire reel on the machine) amputated his fingertip.
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 335311)
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 was troubleshooting a machine. He was investigating a slipping belt when it caught his left hand and pulled it into a pulley, partially amputating the tip of his thumb.
An employee was tilting a radiator in a fixture. The radiator moved in the fixture and crushed the employee's left index fingertip, causing an amputation.
An employee installed a busbar on a coil for a winding machine. The busbar hit a tension bar, causing his left ring finger to get caught between the coil and the tension bar, which pulled in the employee's glove and resulted in a medical fingertip amputation. The machine was guarded at the time.
An employee was operating a wire winding machine when their clothing was caught in a rotating component, pulling them into the equipment. The employee's right arm was fractured.
An employee was readjusting a safety hook to remove hardware from gang forms when his feet slipped. He fell to the ground, resulting in a broken left arm and wrist.
An employee was on a step ladder in a store aisle, making room on shelving for merchandise. She fell from the step ladder to the floor, suffering two fractures in her left leg. She was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was closing the side cargo door to a company van. The tip of his finger got caught between the door and the door jamb, resulting in a partial amputation.
An employee lost his footing while climbing an inclined ladder. He stumbled down one step and was able to stabilize himself by holding the railing and twisting his body, but he suffered an internal abdominal injury and was hospitalized.