Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Amputations involving bone loss
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Interfor U.S. Inc., 75 Ben Hill Rd., THOMASTON, GEORGIA 30286
on — Amputations involving bone loss, affecting the Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s).
Final narrative
On June 12, 2025, an employee was removing a board from a cross-up on a landing table. While they were shifting the board onto a log loader, their right little finger got caught between the board and the lug. The employee suffered a fractured finger and a laceration of the knuckle that resulted in a fingertip amputation to the distal knuckle.
HospitalizedAmputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Log loaders
An employee was clearing a pile of woodchips from a planer feeder located in the dry finishing end when their left hand slipped and contacted a chip head resulting in amputation to the left little finger.
An employee was monitoring the flow of lumber into the edger and straightening cants/lumber for proper infeed when his hand was struck by a cant. The employee's left middle fingertip was amputated without bone loss.
An employee was grading lumber at the planer lug loader infeed when a broken piece of dimensional lumber was ejected from the planer trimmer and struck the employee. The employee sustained a concussion and intracranial bleeding.
An employee was doing maintenance at a sawmill. While getting ready to start the chip heads, he leaned in to observe a chain. The chain moved into position and caught the employee's right leg. He suffered a broken femur and was hospitalized requiring surgery.
An employee was manually feeding a 6' piece of 2x10 lumber into a rip saw when a piece of the lumber became caught in the saw and kicked back through the machine, striking and puncturing the employee's right forearm.
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 321113)
An employee was repairing a photo eye on the infeed roll case when they dropped a tool. The employee went to grab the tool and his fingers contacted the chain and sprocket of the infeed roll case. His fingers were pulled into the pinch point and the fingertips were crushed, resulting in amputation of one fingertip.
An employee was troubleshooting dispersing equipment. A belt and pulley system was energized, and the moving belt caught the employee's right ring finger. He suffered a partial amputation at the first knuckle, below the nail.
An employee was cleaning the photo eye sensors of a piece of equipment between the saw that cuts lumber into lengths and boards. The employee stepped on a metal grate that gave way and fell 8-10 feet. The employee was able to remove himself from the conveyor. His tibia was fractured just below the knee.
While refilling a lubricant tank, an employee observed that a pump was not operating correctly. While troubleshooting the issue, the employee reached toward the back of the pump to check for proper airflow. Their left index finger contacted moving components in the pump's piston mechanism, resulting in partial amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
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.