Contact with hot objects or substances · Thermal burns degree unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Western Sugar Cooperative, 2100 E Overland, SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA 69361
on — Thermal burns degree unspecified, affecting the Multiple body parts n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was helping change out socks on hard thin juice filters, part of a beet sugar manufacturing operation. While the filter lid was being removed, juice started leaking down the side of the filter. This suggested that the juice was bypassing the seat on the main shutoff valve. While the main shutoff was being checked, the valve was opened and sprayed hot juice on the employee. The employee suffered burns to the left arm, the left ribcage area, the left side of the back, and the left side of the face. The employee was hospitalized.
Hospitalized Multiple body parts n.e.c. Liquid foods and beverages
An employee was taking a sugar sample to the lab. As he was walking down the stairs, he slipped on the second to last stair and fell backward. The employee's ankle was wedged into the stairs, resulting in a fracture of the left distal fibula at the lateral malleolus.
An employee was changing safety filters when a filter that was under pressure sprayed hot juice onto the employee, resulting in burns to the neck and back.
Two maintenance employees were inspecting the Omega coupling on the high melter pump. During inspection, the employees realized the shaft on the pump was broken rather than the coupling. The maintenance supervisor was going to locate a rebuilt seal assembly for the pump. The employees started removing the seal assembly from the pump. As one of the employees removed the base plate bolts from the pump, the head pressure from the high melter tank pushed the seal assembly out of the pump casing and hot sugar juice sprayed onto the employees causing first and second degree burns to the upper and lower arm, hand and chest areas.
An employee was performing a parts replacement on equipment when a stainless steel mesh part struck his hand, causing a laceration through his leather work glove. He was hospitalized, requiring stitches and surgery.
An employee was training another employee to take a water meter reading in the UV building. The employee stepped backwards to allow the trainee to get closer to visually read the meter and tripped over a 1" air line that had a 3/8" air hose attached. The employee fell to ground fracturing the right hip.
An employee pulled out a bucket of hot oil from under the fryer. The employee then stood on the table to clean the back wall. He stepped down into the bucket of hot oil, resulting in third-degree burns to his left leg.
An employee was performing maintenance under a kettle. When he removed a tri-clamp on a transfer line, the hot fat and broth material in the kettle poured out onto his arm. The employee was hospitalized with burns.
After completing a run with an oil distributor truck, an employee was working to return (suction) the hot oil to the tank of the truck. When the employee opened one of the valves, hot oil (approximately 385 degrees) sprayed their face, resulting in first-, second-, and third-degree burns.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was using a water hose to clean debris out of the outfeed of a log conditioning vat. Water began entering the vat from the adjoining vat through a void in the separation wall at the infeed of the vats. As the employee was exiting the vat he had been working in using the access opening at the outfeed, hot water exiting the access opening entered the top of his protective hip wader. It pooled at the bottom of the wader and burned his left foot and ankle.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 311313)
An employee was removing a beet elevating belt while mechanics were cutting a hole in the center of the belt to install the pulley point using an oscillating tool with a hook blade. The tool popped out of the belt and the tool struck the injured employee in the stomach, resulting in a laceration on the lower left abdomen.
An employee was troubleshooting the precoat/overflow tank when scalding liquid (juice) began to leak out of the tank and contacted the employee. The employee was hospitalized for burns.
An employee was clearing a jam in the bag sealer machine in the warehouse when his right thumb was caught in the belt and pulley, resulting in amputation of the thumb tip.
An employee was crouched down, working on an electrical box for a motor in the final clarifier. As the employee stood up, he became lightheaded, caused him to step off a concrete pillar and fall 10 feet 4 inches to the floor. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.