Southwest Research Institute
Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c. - Amputations - SAN ANTONIO, Texas
| Employer | Southwest Research Institute |
| Address | 6220 Culebra Road |
| City, State ZIP | SAN ANTONIO, Texas 78238 |
| Report ID | 2020043943 |
| Event Date | April 29, 2020 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized, Amputation |
| Nature of Injury | Amputations |
| Body Part | Fingertip(s) |
| Event Type | Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c. |
| Source of Injury | Vehicle and mobile equipment parts, n.e.c. |
| Secondary Source | Forklift, order picker, platform truck-powered |
| Industry (NAICS) | 541711 |
| GPS Coordinates | 29.44478, -98.61431 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was parking a powered industrial truck (PIT) when he noticed that the left tine was not aligned properly. He turned off the truck with the tines elevated in order to reposition the tine so that it could be securely lowered to the ground for the evening. The truck was parked over an unused metal PIT attachment. He grabbed the horizontal section of the tine with his right hand and as he began to place pressure on the tine to move it toward the center, the tine dislodged from the carriage and fell onto the metal attachment below, crushing the middle and ring fingers on his right hand. As a result, he suffered amputations of the fingertips of the third and fourth distal phalanges on the right hand (above the nail bed).
Incident Summary
On April 29, 2020, a worker at Southwest Research Institute in SAN ANTONIO, Texas suffered amputations to the fingertip(s). The incident was classified as struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c., with vehicle and mobile equipment parts, n.e.c. identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized, amputation.
Context
OSHA has recorded 1,936 severe injury reports involving "Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c." incidents in our database. Browse all Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c. injuries.
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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.