AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment - Amputations - CHICAGO, Illinois
| Employer | AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. |
| Address | O'HARE AIRPORT, 727 Hangar Road |
| City, State ZIP | CHICAGO, Illinois 60666 |
| Report ID | 2016021030 |
| Event Date | February 3, 2016 |
| Outcome | Amputation |
| Nature of Injury | Amputations |
| Body Part | Finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c. |
| Event Type | Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment |
| Source of Injury | Aircraft unspecified |
| Industry (NAICS) | 481111 |
| GPS Coordinates | 41.97520, -87.88348 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was performing maintenance functions on board an aircraft. The employee manually reclined a passenger seat back and raised the foot rest to inspect under the seat. Using his right hand, the employee pulled on the manual release mechanism to lower the foot rest, not realizing that his left thumb was between the foot rest support structure. As the foot rest was released, it automatically dropped to the folded position, severing off the employee's left thumb at the first knuckle (approximately 1").
Incident Summary
On February 3, 2016, a worker at AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. in CHICAGO, Illinois suffered amputations to the finger(s), fingernail(s), n.e.c.. The incident was classified as compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment, with aircraft unspecified identified as the source of injury. The worker was amputation.
Context
OSHA has recorded 4,985 severe injury reports involving "Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment" incidents in our database. Browse all Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment injuries.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2019 | Scheck Mechanical Corp. | BARTONVILLE, Illinois | Avulsions, enucleations | Hosp. |
| Sep 19, 2016 | Nazareth Pallet Co. Inc. | NORTHAMPTON, Pennsylvania | Amputations | Hosp., Amp. |
| Sep 30, 2015 | Cellox LLC | REEDSBURG, Wisconsin | Amputations | Hosp., Amp. |
| Apr 7, 2015 | TIME STRIPING | VAN BUREN, Arkansas | Amputations | Amp. |
| May 17, 2018 | River Town Ironworks, Inc. | PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wisconsin | Crushing injuries | Hosp. |
| May 4, 2018 | Kellogg | ROME, Georgia | Amputations | Amp. |
| Apr 1, 2021 | Ag-Pro LLC | BOSTON, Georgia | Soreness, pain, hurt-nonspecified injury | Hosp. |
| Mar 28, 2020 | Entergy | WESTLAKE, Louisiana | Amputations | Amp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers who suffer amputations on the job are generally entitled to workers' compensation benefits covering all medical treatment, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and a portion of lost wages. Many states also provide scheduled permanent disability benefits for the loss of a limb or digit, a fixed payment based on the specific body part affected. In cases where employer negligence was egregious or equipment was defective, a personal injury lawsuit against a third party (the equipment manufacturer) may be possible in addition to workers' comp. An attorney specializing in workers' compensation can advise on available options. Report the injury to OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA within 24 hours.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately, they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.