Sandvik Materials Technology Inc.

An employee was operating a machine that uses air pressure to push small plastic cleaning wads through half-inch diameter pipes to remove debris and oil. A metal rod from the machine broke off and remained in the pipe. When the cleaning plug and air pressure were applied to the pipe during the cleaning process, the pressure built up and eventually shot the metal rod out of the pipe. The metal rod entered the employee's left hand causing internal muscle and tissue damage requiring hospitalization.