Bafesa Zinc US Inc.

Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet — Fractures — PALMERTON, Pennsylvania

HOSPITALIZED — Worker hospitalized after incident at Bafesa Zinc US Inc. in PALMERTON, Pennsylvania
Employer Bafesa Zinc US Inc.
Address 900 Delaware Avenue
City, State ZIP PALMERTON, Pennsylvania 18071
Report ID 2024021023
Event Date February 2, 2024
Outcome Hospitalized
Nature of Injury Fractures
Body Part Thigh(s)
Event Type Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet
Source of Injury Scaffolds, staging unspecified
Secondary Source Ground, travel, and support surfaces unspecified
Industry (NAICS) 331492
Inspection # 1727062
GPS Coordinates 40.80903, -75.59279

Location Map

Incident Narrative

An employee was inspecting a gangway at a rail scale house. He was on the gangway when the catch that kept the platform from dropping was overcome by the weight and allowed the rounded handrail to slip past the catch. This caused the gangway to drop straight down, and the employee fell 15 feet to the ground. As he fell, his left leg struck the front of the engine, which broke his femur. He was hospitalized, requiring surgery.

Incident Summary

On February 2, 2024, a worker at Bafesa Zinc US Inc. in PALMERTON, Pennsylvania suffered fractures to the thigh(s). The incident was classified as fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet, with scaffolds, staging unspecified identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.

Context

OSHA has recorded 187 severe injury reports involving "Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet" incidents in our database. Browse all Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet injuries.

See all reports for Bafesa Zinc US Inc..

Similar Incidents

Other severe injury reports involving Fall to lower level from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 30 feet events:

Date Employer Location Nature Outcome
May 15, 2024 Windstream Nebraska, Inc UNION, Nebraska Fractures Hosp.
Dec 12, 2024 Aztec Powerline Services THORNDALE, Texas Fractures Hosp.
Mar 31, 2025 H&S Constructors, Inc. BEEVILLE, Texas Fractures Hosp.
Aug 29, 2025 Titan Carpentry, LLC EUREKA, Missouri Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries Hosp.
Feb 15, 2024 Spectrum PORT ORANGE, Florida Fractures Hosp.
Jun 9, 2025 Space Exploration Technologies Corp. BROWNSVILLE, Texas Cerebral and other intracranial hemorrhages without skull fracture Hosp.
Feb 23, 2024 Caterpillar Inc. DECATUR, Illinois Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures Hosp.
Mar 14, 2024 Charter Communications ENTERPRISE, Alabama Fractures 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.

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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.

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