105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #735068

HEAD,FRONT END LOADER,PIN,TORCH,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,FACE,BRAIN,CONTUSION

Event
HEAD,FRONT END LOADER,PIN,TORCH,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,FACE,BRAIN,CONTUSION
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
735068
Report ID
454510

Event description

Employee killed when struck by hinge pin in explosion

Investigation abstract

Employee #1 was helping a coworker remove a hinge pin from the front of a Caterp illar Traxcavator front end loader in order to remove the bucket. Three of the f our pins came out, but the left hinge pin would not come out. The employees used a drift--a chisel with a blunt end--and a hammer to no avail. They then used a gas torch with a rosebud to heat the pin and placed a hydraulic press between th e brackets to apply pressure. An explosion occurred, dislodging the pin, which s truck Employee #1 on the left side of the face and head. He died of a massive ce rebral contusion two days later.

Victim

  1. #1 Fatality Age 26 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    43
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

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