OSHA Injury Report: Waste Control Specialists

At a glance

Where did this happen?

What was the outcome?

Before the incident

Staging DU cylinder near ISOCS.

What happened

The MWTF supervisor a rad technician and two operators were trying to loosen a bung cap on a [REDACTED] Americas [REDACTED] cylinder. A three-and-a-half-foot ratchet wrench was connected to a socket adapter that fit the bung cap. The ratchet wrench was not able to loosen the cap which appeared to be seized. The supervisor requested a different wrench from maintenance but it was not issued to him. A three-foot cheater bar (metal pipe) was added to provide additional leverage and allow enough space for three employees to grab the handle at once. A fourth employee (operator) was holding the socket in place while the other three workers were pulling the wrench down. The ratchet drive snapped off. The wrench handle released the stored energy. The supervisor maintained his grip on the handle so it wouldn’t fly off and hit anyone. The energy was absorbed in his left wrist elbow and shoulder.

Injury or illness

Left wrist elbow and shoulder strain

Object or substance involved

Wrench

Summary line

Shoulder strain from stored energy in wrench.

Employee and industry

When (timing detail)

Source

Data from OSHA ITA Form 300/301 electronic submissions, filing year 2025. ITA Case Detail records are establishment-reported submissions, not OSHA inspections — no per-record IMIS deep link exists.