Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Fractures
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at US Water Service Corporation, 311 Pennington Rocky Hill RD, PENNINGTON, NEW JERSEY 08534
on — Fractures , affecting the Thumb(s).
Final narrative
An employee noticed a polymer mixer pump was shaking and went to troubleshoot it. The employee was working to rotate the shaft of the mixer pump when the shaft started and grabbed his glove. He sustained a compound fracture to the left thumb.
A temporary employee turned off a planer machine, opened the housing, and began clearing a jam. The machine's spinning blade caught his right hand and degloved the index finger.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.
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 924110)
An employee was taking pictures of algae and went to use the ladder when they fell 10 feet onto the cement. The employee sustained a broken leg that required hospitalization.
Employees were lubricating a chain and sprocket on an entry gate to a treatment plant. One employee's ring and middle fingers were pulled into a control panel motor drive sprocket, which amputated both fingertips.
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.