Optimus Industries LLC
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part - Internal injuries to organs and blood vessels of the trunk - CHANUTE, Kansas
| Employer | Optimus Industries LLC |
| Address | 1700 S. WASHINGTON ST. |
| City, State ZIP | CHANUTE, Kansas 66720 |
| Report ID | 2022010777 |
| Event Date | January 26, 2022 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Internal injuries to organs and blood vessels of the trunk |
| Body Part | Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders |
| Event Type | Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part |
| Source of Injury | Parts and materials, unspecified |
| Secondary Source | Special process machinery, n.e.c. |
| Industry (NAICS) | 332410 |
| Inspection # | 1577019 |
| GPS Coordinates | 37.67000, -95.46000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
Employees were standing on the "B" economizer, approximately 4 feet off the ground, attempting to plumb six tubing elements. The assembly sequence was optimized for the "B" economizer by building tubular elements approximately 20 feet wide by 5 feet tall by 2 feet and weighing 1,050 lbs. each and installing them into a fixture to prevent toppling. At the time of the incident, six elements were installed into the fixture and all were held in place with F-clamps at the top while the bottoms were welded to the header pipe. Employee 1 and Employee 2 were standing on top of the fixture, 4 feet off the ground. The elements were leaning away from the employees toward the South. Employee 1 and Employee 2 instructed another employee on the ground to remove the clamps that were restraining/holding the tops of the elements in an attempt to manually plumb and reblock the elements. Employee 1 leaned two elements into the vertical position and upon leaning the third element upright, all six elements toppled toward them. The employees were struck by and crushed by the falling elements and suffered broken bones including broken ribs and a punctured lung. Both employees were hospitalized.
Incident Summary
On January 26, 2022, a worker at Optimus Industries LLC in CHANUTE, Kansas suffered internal injuries to organs and blood vessels of the trunk to the chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders. The incident was classified as struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part, with parts and materials, unspecified identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 1,850 severe injury reports involving "Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part" incidents in our database. Browse all Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part injuries.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 2016 | Andritz Separation, Inc. | SCOTT DEPOT, West Virginia | Fractures and other injuries, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jun 25, 2018 | Gilbane Residential Builders | BROOKLYN, New York | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Pheifer Bros Construction Co.,Inc. | NEWTON, Wisconsin | Cuts, lacerations | Hosp. |
| Feb 15, 2023 | Weir ESCO Newton | NEWTON, Mississippi | Amputations | Amp. |
| Dec 11, 2019 | Menard, Inc. | HANOVER PARK, Illinois | Concussions | Hosp. |
| Dec 11, 2019 | ProPetro Services | MIDLAND, Texas | Amputations | Amp. |
| Jan 5, 2023 | Fontaine Trailer Company | SPRINGVILLE, Alabama | Amputations | Amp. |
| Feb 15, 2016 | Dresser, Inc. GE Oil and Gas Division | BRADFORD, Pennsylvania | Herniated discs | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
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.