Black Hills Corporation

Fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact — Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures — LEAD, South Dakota

HOSPITALIZED — Worker hospitalized after incident at Black Hills Corporation in LEAD, South Dakota
Employer Black Hills Corporation
Address 21653 US Hwy 85
City, State ZIP LEAD, South Dakota 57754
Report ID 2025065988
Event Date June 23, 2025
Outcome Hospitalized
Nature of Injury Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures
Body Part Trunk unspecified
Event Type Fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact
Source of Injury Ground, travel, and support surfaces unspecified
Secondary Source Limbs, branches unattached
Industry (NAICS) 221122
GPS Coordinates 44.36248, -103.78027

Location Map

Incident Narrative

On June 23, 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM, an employee was walking along the powerline right of way conducting a quality control assessment for tree trimming crews that had previously worked in the area. While walking in the right of way, the employee slipped/tripped and fell to the ground. They fell onto a stick, resulting in a puncture wound to the upper right side of their torso just below the armpit. The employee was hospitalized.

Incident Summary

On June 23, 2025, a worker at Black Hills Corporation in LEAD, South Dakota suffered cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures to the trunk unspecified. The incident was classified as fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact, with ground, travel, and support surfaces unspecified identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.

Context

OSHA has recorded 103 severe injury reports involving "Fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact" incidents in our database. Browse all Fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact injuries.

See all reports for Black Hills Corporation.

Similar Incidents

Other severe injury reports involving Fall on same level resulting in exposure or contact events:

Date Employer Location Nature Outcome
May 16, 2024 G&S Lumber Co., Inc. NACOGDOCHES, Texas Amputations involving bone loss Hosp., Amp.
Feb 6, 2025 Cousins Submarines Inc. APPLETON, Wisconsin Thermal burns third degree or higher Hosp.
Aug 8, 2024 Shields Asphalt Paving, Inc. WEST SUNBURY, Pennsylvania Amputations involving bone loss Hosp., Amp.
Jan 22, 2024 FDC Houston HOUSTON, Texas Fractures Hosp.
Jun 19, 2025 DSV Air & Sea Inc CARTERET, New Jersey Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified Amp.
Feb 4, 2025 Peco Foods, Inc. CANTON, Mississippi Thermal burns degree unspecified Hosp.
May 1, 2024 Groundworks Landscaping EAST HAMPTON, New York Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures Hosp.
Dec 27, 2024 Homeguard Products, Inc. JACKSONVILLE, Florida Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified Amp.

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.

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