BOAZ, ALABAMA—
Tenneco, Inc.
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Amputations
Final narrative
A maintenance employee was conducting repairs on the conveyor belt of an automatic palletizer. The employee's shirt fell in front of a sensor causing the equipment to energize. The employee's right middle finger was caught by chains within the conveyor belt motor resulting in a partial amputation.
Similar incidents · Same event type
SAINT HENRY, OHIO—
RINDLER POULTRY, LLC
On December 31, 2023, an employee was performing sanitation on a packer conveyor and was walking in the passageway when their shirt collar was pulled into the conveyor above the passageway. The employee was strangled and became unconscious. The conveyor was not guarded at the time.
MACON, GEORGIA—
First Quality Baby Products, LLC
On 12/25/2023, at approximately 1:00 PM, a converting pulp mill was plugged up. An employee was going to use compressed air to clean the machine. He thought he dropped a baffle behind the teeth of the machine. When he reached for the baffle, his cut-resistant glove was caught by the teeth (blades). The employee sustained a laceration and partial amputation to the right index finger.
FREEPORT, ILLINOIS—
Snak-King Corp.
An employee was clearing a jam in a surge hopper when they sustained a right wrist fracture, three finger amputations, and a laceration. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
MIDDLEFIELD, OHIO—
Tarkett USA, Inc.
An employee was working as a color weighman operator. The employee located the weigh station hopper and removed the vent sock and clamps to access the inside of the hopper through the vent hole. After using a pole to clear the bottom of the hopper, the employee reached through the vent hole to access the top of the hopper. The employee's right hand came in contact with the rotary air lock, causing partial amputations to two fingers.
CARROLLTON, GEORGIA—
AMERICAN CONTAINERS, INC.
On December 14, 2023, an employee was clearing a jam on the exit roll of a sander when a belt grabbed his glove through an opening in the guard, pulling his left middle finger into a pulley and resulting in a fingertip amputation.