Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-11-03	Brownsville	Tx	SpaceX Launch Facility	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
A crew was using a magnetic lift to lower a 500-pound section of square tubing into place. The injured employee had their hand partially inside one end of the tubing when the magnet failed and dropped the square tubing, injuring their left hand including crushed fingers and amputations to the ring finger and thumb.
2021-10-07	Brownsville	Tx	Alandro Plastic Resources LLC	Ankle(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area
An employee was walking across a shipping and receiving bay door opening when they were struck by a powered industrial truck reversing out of the bay door, resulting in a broken left ankle.
2021-08-11	Brownsville	Pa	Heartland Fabrication	Foot (feet)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was working on a steel component that was resting on a piece of wood cribbing, about 8 inches off the ground. The cribbing broke and the component fell onto the employee's feet, crushing both of them.
2021-05-21	Brownsville	Tx	Mueller Co	Fingertip(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee was installing a cap in a valve and amputated their left index fingertip.
2021-05-17	Brownsville	Tx	JC Concrete	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Injured by slipping or swinging object held by injured worker
An employee was using a circular saw to cut wooden planks into stakes. The saw caught his shirt and was pulled toward his abdomen, lacerating it. He was hospitalized with a 10-inch cut from the right side of his torso to the left side of his navel.
2021-05-13	Brownsville	Tx	Rich Products Corporation	Lower leg(s)	Nonroadway collision with other vehicle
Two employees were operating forklifts in a freezer. One forklift stopped to let the other go by. One of the forklifts slid on the icy floor and its forks struck the left calf of the other forklift's operator, fracturing their shin.
2021-05-06	Brownsville	Tx	South Texas Welding Service	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
Two employees were working to cut and remove a 12-inch neck flange and replace it with a pipe section. Both employees pulled the flange out. The 50 to 60 pound flange then pinched and amputated the right middle fingertip of one of the employees.
2021-05-04	Brownsville	Wi	GRANDE CHEESE COMPANY	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
Three employees were working with a forklift to lift a cheese mixer and transport it into a plant. One employee's left ring finger was pinched between the mixer and a forklift mast, causing a fracture and amputation to the fingertip.
2021-04-01	Brownsville	Tx	All Star Metals, L.L.C.	Foot (feet)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was removing a bolt from an engine block when the block sank due to rain and crushed the employee's foot, resulting in broken bones.
2020-09-24	Brownsville	Tx	Department of Homeland Security	Shoulder(s), including clavicle(s), scapula(e)	Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway
On September 24, 2020, at about 7:20 AM, an ATV unit agent was assisting in the apprehension of three suspects. While working the group via the ATV, one suspect ran out of a cornfield in front of the ATV. The agent applied the brakes to avoid striking the suspect, flipping the ATV in the process. The ATV then rolled over the agent. The agent was hospitalized for a fractured scapula.
2020-08-31	Brownsville	Wi	Michels Corporation	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was manually unloading sections of counterweight pipe. Each pipe had swiveling D-rings mounted on the ends to be used for lifting the pipes with slings. The employee's finger got caught between a D-ring and a pipe resulting in a partial finger amputation.
2020-08-31	Brownsville	Tx	Dish Network	Nonclassifiable	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee fell while climbing down an A-frame ladder, landing on the ground about 3-5 feet below and suffering broken vertebrae.
2020-03-14	Brownsville	Texas	SpaceX	Nonclassifiable	Contact with hot objects or substances
While actuating a control valve, an employee was struck by a jet stream of hot water from a nearby hose. The employee sustained first and second degree burns.
2020-02-14	Brownsville	Texas	Keppel AmFELS, L.L.C.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
Three employees were moving steel plates using an overhead crane. One employee's left little finger was caught between the ring of the lifting clamp and the hook of the crane chain, causing an amputation of the fingertip.
2019-09-20	Brownsville	Texas	AllStar Metals	Multiple body parts	Vehicle or machinery fire
An employee was cutting a large piece of metal with a torch. The lines that supplied gas to the torch burst into flames, causing first- and second-degree burns to the employee's thighs and abdomen.
2019-08-29	Brownsville	Texas	U.S. Customs and Border Protection	Brain	Fall or jump from vehicle in normal operation, nonroadway
An employee was riding in the cargo bed area of an ATV while completing an exercise when she fell off the ATV and hit her head on the pavement. She was hospitalized with a fracture at the temporal lobe and hemorrhage of the frontal lobe.
2019-05-14	Brownsville	Texas	INTERNATIONAL SHIPBREAKING LIMITED, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
Employees were cutting heating coil pipes using an electric reciprocating saw inside a starboard cargo tank on a barge. Gasoline vapors ignited and employees received first, second, and third degree burns. Two employees were hospitalized.
2019-05-06	Brownsville	Texas	HRP Brownsville, LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with objects and equipment
An employee was helping to move pieces of scrap metal. When the magnet crane was loading the scrap metal, the employee's left ring finger was caught and crushed between two pieces of scrap metal. The employee was hospitalized.
2019-03-18	Brownsville	Texas	Rich Products Corporation	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee was cleaning the scraper bar on a freezer belt exit. The employee's right ring finger was caught between the scraper and the belt; the top knuckle (right under the nailbed) and finger pad were amputated.
2019-02-12	Brownsville	Texas	Plitt Crane & Equipment Inc.	Leg(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was operating a differential crane weighing 300 pounds. He placed a clamp to secure the crane onto the cable. The clamp came undone and the crane fell onto the employee's left leg breaking it. The employee was hospitalized for treatment.
2017-10-09	Brownsville	Texas	Sodexo Services of Texas LTD Partnership	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was operating a blender machine. As she pushed an onion through the processor, her right middle finger was amputated.
2017-10-02	Brownsville	Texas	HRP Brwnsville	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was grabbing a pipe he was torch cutting when the pipe fell on his hand, amputating one of his fingertips.
2017-06-13	Brownsville	Texas	Magic Valley Concrete	Head and trunk	Other fall to lower level
An employee fell from the tire of a front-end loader while performing maintenance on the vehicle, injuring his back and head.
2017-05-12	Brownsville	Texas	Global Optics L.L.C.	Wrist(s)	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee was running a service line to the residence. The ladder shifted as he was climbing it, causing him to fall approximately 10 feet to the ground. The employee sustained a broken left wrist requiring surgery to repair and lacerations to the face and right arm.
2017-02-28	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	Brownsville Marine Products	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by discharged object or substance
An employee was working on the paint line when the employee's right index finger was injected with paint by a stationary pain gun. The high pressure injury will require surgery.
2017-02-13	Brownsville	Wisconsin	Michels Corporation	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle
An employee was performing maintenance activities on a rock crushing machine when the machine's bucket struck him. He suffered a chest contusion and was hospitalized.
2017-02-06	Brownsville	Texas	United Rentals	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with objects and equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was climbing down equipment to secure it to the rear trailer of an 18-wheeler. His ring was caught as he was climbing down, and he sustained an avulsion injury to his left ring finger.
2016-08-09	Brownsville	Texas	Community Development Corporation of Brownsville	Lumbar region	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee was on a ladder and fell 4 to 5 feet fracturing a disc in the lower back.
2016-06-07	Brownsville	Texas	Keppel AmFELS, LLC	Ankle(s)	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee was handing materials to scaffold erectors when a metal grate was displaced. The employee fell approximately 10 feet and suffered a broken ankle.
2016-05-24	Brownsville	Texas	Goodwill Industries Of South Texas	Heel(s)	Fall through surface or existing opening
An employee climbed a ladder to remove a ceiling tile and gain access to a locked office. The employee went over the wall, stepped on a ceiling tile, and fell through the ceiling to the floor, breaking both heels and requiring surgery.
2016-02-16	Brownsville	Texas	Valley Baptism Medical Center	Multiple body parts	Fall on same level due to tripping over self
An employee walking down the hall tripped and fell resulting in shoulder and knee injuries.
2015-12-28	Brownsville	Texas	905/BMW Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
On 12/28/15, an employee was putting oil into a motor on top of a railcar about 20 feet in the air. The employee's right arm was caught in a pulley attached to the motor breaking three fingers. He was hospitalized for surgery.
2015-08-18	Brownsville	Texas	Rain for Rent, Inc.	Leg(s)	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
An employee was standing near a hose/pipe connection. The pressurized water hose came loose and struck an employee while moving at a great speed and force, breaking his leg.
2015-07-17	Brownsville	Texas	Department of Homeland Security-Customs and Border Patrol	Leg(s)	Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway
An employee driving an ATV flipped and broke a leg.
2015-06-15	Brownsville	Texas	Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol	Nonclassifiable	Nonvenomous insect bites
A Border Patrol Agent was bitten by a tick and eventually required hospitalization.
2015-06-11	Brownsville	Texas	All Star Metals, LLC	Lumbar region	Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet
An employee walked close to an elevator opening. He rested his hand on the barricade (chain) that didn't hold his weight. He fell twelve feet resulting in a non-displaced fracture of his lower back and a possible fracture of his right foot.
2015-06-10	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	Brownsville Marine Products	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee sustained a finger injury when it was caught in a chain hoist.
2015-06-07	Brownsville	Texas	INTERNATIONAL SHIPBREAKING LIMITED, LLC	Multiple pelvic region locations	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was closing a gate when the gate became unhinged and fell on him. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery for a fractured pelvis and dislocated hip.
2015-04-29	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	MK Industries, Inc.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Nonclassifiable
An employee punctured a lung while moving welding equipment into a work area.
2015-03-26	Brownsville	Texas	All Star Metals LLC	Hand(s) and wrist(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee's right hand and wrist got caught while helping a mechanic declog a piston.
2015-03-23	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	Brownsville Marine Products, LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched between two stationary objects
On March 23, 2015, an employee pinched their finger between a side section and a support, suffering an avulsion. The employee went to the hospital and received stitches to their left ring finger.
2015-02-27	Brownsville	Pennsylvania	Brownsville Marine Products, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of clothing from controlled heat source
An employee was standing near a pot belly natural gas heater, and his clothing caught on fire. The employee was admitted to the hospital.
2015-01-27	Brownsville	Texas	ESCO Marine, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of clothing from controlled heat source
Employee was in yard #1 cutting metal with a 6 ft. cutting torch when sparks from the torch ignited his shirt. He sustained second degree burns to the upper right side of his torso, arm, chest, and a portion of his abdomen.