OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221366867
VSS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
SAN DIEGO, CA·
Event description
Employee amputates fingertip while hitching trailer
Investigation abstract
At 6:00 a.m. on June 28, 2021, Employee #1, part of a two-person crew working Axle Vanguard Trailer manufactured by Big Tex Trailers, serial number 92547. for a paving contractor in San Diego, was hitching a trailer loaded with barricades to a company pickup truck. Although the hitch and coupler were not perfectly aligned, Employee #1 proceeded to force the coupler onto the tow ball. During this process, he caught his right ring fingertip between the ball hitch and coupler, resulting in a degloving injury and amputation of the fingertip. The superintendent and crew became aware of the injury when Employee #1 shouted in pain. He was driven to the emergency room at Scripps Memorial Hospital, where the fingertip was amputated and treated. The trailer involved was a 70TV Tandem
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 23 M
- Event type
- 2
- Occupation code
- 869
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