Struck by running powered equipment during maintenance, cleaning, testing · Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Tropicana Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1001 13TH AVENUE EAST, BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34208
on — Nonfatal 'crushing' injuries, affecting the Hand(s), finger(s) unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was troubleshooting to determine why a pallet was not traveling along a continuous vertical conveyor. The conveyor's rollers caused a crushing/laceration injury to the employee's right hand that required surgery.
An employee was changing out a hose on a chemical tote. The fitting for the tote disengaged and the employee was exposed to peracetic acid that caused chemical burns and respiratory distress.
The injured employee entered the first level of gravity-feed racking in a cold room to free a stuck pallet of product. A forklift operator used another pallet to free the stuck pallet from the feed side of the lane. All the other pallets in the lane then moved forward, pinching the injured employee's ankle.
An employee was driving a golf cart when its left leaf spring cracked, causing the cart to abruptly turn left into a nearby ditch. The employee suffered three fractures in his right leg below the knee, as well as severe lacerations on his head and forehead.
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 311411)
An employee was operating a pallet end rider when it struck a rack. The employee's right foot was pinned and fractured between the forklift and the rack.
An employee was putting a machine guard back onto a chain and sprocket when their left middle finger became caught in the chain and sprocket. The employee sustained an amputation of the fingertip.
An employee was changing out a hose on a chemical tote. The fitting for the tote disengaged and the employee was exposed to peracetic acid that caused chemical burns and respiratory distress.
An employee was helping to dismantle an old piece of equipment (descrambled bottle machine) when a metal plate fell and pinched his left middle finger against the wall. The employee sustained a severe laceration that required surgery and amputation.
On December 3, 2024, at approximately 11:30 PM, electronic technicians were adjusting a tensioning chain on an elevator on a palletizer that had become unlevel. After loosening the tensioners and creating slack in the chain, the injured employee was placing the tensioning chain back onto the sprocket. While moving the chain it regained tension and their left middle fingertip was caught between the chain and the sprocket and was amputated.
An employee was helping a coworker transport a tall palm tree with a mini skid steer. The employee was severely shocked by a high-voltage electrical wire above the ground.
An employee was retrieving a Christmas tree from a shelf using a ladder. He missed a step and fell to the concrete floor. He sustained injury to his head and wrist.
An employee was operating an agricultural tractor during sugarcane harvesting. The employee sustained a lumbar sprain due to vibration or motion from the tractor.
An employee was moving a 3-ton condensing unit, strapped down on a dolly, out of a garage. The strap broke, causing the employee to fall backward onto the brick pavered driveway. The employee suffered injury to a spinal ligament in the neck.