Newport News Shipbuilding Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries

An employee was securing a series of cast iron fixtures called shop blocks (used for material elevation and support) in place by tightening bolts to a rotary table using a pneumatic impact wrench. Before tightening the last bolt, he had to secure the fourth and final shop block. The impact wrench was shifted into its reverse position. When he operated the impact wrench, the bolt backed out and pinched his right pinky finger between the impact tool and the internal cavity of the shop block, resulting in a partial amputation of his right pinky finger.