Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-08-19	Topeka	Ks	Midway Sales & Distributing, Inc	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level
An employee fell backward from a truck bed to the ground, hitting raised concrete. He suffered injuries to the left shoulder and ribs and was hospitalized.
2021-07-07	Topeka	Ks	Delta Designs, Ltd.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was shifting a drawer with a cart when the cart hit a bump and his left ring finger was crushed, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
2021-05-03	Topeka	Ks	The J.M. Smucker Company	Hand(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
A maintenance employee was adjusting conveyor tracking bolts at the bottom frame of the conveyor when he began to feel dizzy and grabbed the frame to balance himself. The employee's hand contacted the moving conveyor, resulting in broken bones in his hand that required hospitalization and surgery.
2021-03-28	Topeka	Ks	US Foods	Lower leg(s)	Struck against stationary object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was stacking merchandise on a pallet when a pallet jack drove past the employee and struck a pallet. As the employee attempted to move out of the way, the employee walked into a pallet, resulting in a right leg injury above the ankle.
2021-03-12	Topeka	Ks	Reser's Fine Foods	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Struck against stationary object or equipment while rising
An employee was repairing a belt on a conveyor. He turned and struck his head on an overhead beam and then fell back into the conveyor he was working on, sustaining a back injury.
2021-02-12	Topeka	Ks	McElroy's Inc.	Arm(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was descending an extension ladder when the bottom of the ladder slid on ice away from the building and the employee fell to the ground. The employee sustained a broken left arm.
2020-09-19	Topeka	Ks	Hy-Vee Food Store	Hip(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
An employee slipped on a wet floor and fell breaking their right hip.
2020-09-07	Topeka	Ks	GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee was working on the band side of a tire machine. The employee removed the empty A-frame and was pushing in the next A-frame when the top roll came back and pinched their hand between the adjustment nut of the top roll and the frame of the equipment. Half of the employee's left middle finger was amputated.
2020-09-01	Topeka	Ks	Reece Construction Co., Inc.	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall onto or against object on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was on an H-pile in the center span of a bridge, walking towards the pier cap to retrieve his water bottle. The employee went to step up and stumbled onto rebar which impaled him.
2020-07-27	Topeka	Kansas	White Star Machinery	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was lifting a hydraulic cylinder onto a bench vise for repairs. The vice rotated and the employee's left thumb was caught in a fitting hole. Then the cylinder rotated and caught the employee's thumb against the vise amputating the fingertip.
2020-07-13	Topeka	Kansas	Frito Lay, Inc	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee was cleaning a packaging machine. While lowering a spiral metal chute, the equipment slammed onto his finger. The employee's right pinky finger was amputated.
2020-04-04	Topeka	Kansas	AT & T	Ankle(s)	Trip from stepping into a hole without fall
An employee carried an extension ladder to the work location and was raising it to a strand. He realized that the strand hooks were not extended, so he slowly lowered the ladder to extend the strand hooks. He then stepped into a hole in the customer's yard and twisted his ankle. He was hospitalized with a fractured ankle and had surgery.
2020-03-12	Topeka	Illinois	The L.E. Myers Co	Multiple body parts	Direct exposure to electricity
On March 12, 2020, an employee was trying to remove part of a broken power transmission line from the distribution line it had fallen on. An electrical flash burned the employee's stomach and wrist.
2020-01-07	Topeka	Kansas	Reser's Fine Foods	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
At 3:54 a.m. on January 7, 2020, an employee was preparing to clean an auger that fed the mixers on a production line. His left hand came into contact with an adjacent, moving auger, which amputated about 1/2 inch of his left thumb. He was hospitalized.
2019-08-18	Topeka	Kansas	Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc	Lumbar region	Overexertion in lifting-single episode
At 7:30 a.m. on 8/18/19, a maintenance employee was removing bolts from the bearing housing of a mixer using a break-over bar with a socket. He was standing inside the mixer panel on a flat surface with the break-over bar at chest height lifting upwards when he felt a sharp pain in his back and his knees became weak. He then laid down on his back. He suffered a compression fracture on his L7 vertebra.
2019-08-14	Topeka	Kansas	CAPITOL CONCRETE PRODUCTS INC	Fingertip(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was working near the slat conveyor. When he attempted to retrieve his drink bottle, his right pinky finger was pinched in the conveyor. As a result, his right pinky fingertip was amputated. The slat conveyor was guarded at the time of the incident.
2019-08-01	Topeka	Kansas	KOSS CONSTRUCTION CO.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was cleaning cement off an end dump trailer's tailgate latch. The tailgate closed, pinching the employee's left ring finger between the gate pin and the latch and amputating the fingertip just above the nailbed.
2019-07-17	Topeka	Kansas	GOODYEAR	Multiple trunk locations	Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee walked into a press to grab a tire that was in the unloader. The press pushed the employee into a hot ring, causing burns.
2019-07-05	Topeka	Kansas	HME, INC.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by rolling object or equipment being pushed by injured worker
An employee was manually moving material to finish fabrication. The angle rolled over the employee's finger, smashing it between the sawhorse and material. His fingertip was amputated.
2019-05-20	Topeka	Kansas	RESERS FINE FOODS	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
An employee was palletizing finish good products. When he turned towards the pallet while holding a package, he tripped on the corner of the pallet and fell to the floor resulting in fractured ribs.
2019-05-14	Topeka	Kansas	LINDYSPRING SYSTEMS, L.L.C.	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
While driving a water delivery route, an employee felt unwell due to heat exposure. The employee was hospitalized for dehydration.
2019-05-08	Topeka	Kansas	Kwik Shop, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing
An employee was attacked by a customer with a knife. He was stabbed multiple times.
2019-02-23	Topeka	Kansas	Darden, Inc.	Brain	Struck by or caught in swinging door or gate
An employee was walking through a door. Another employee pushed the same door and hit her on the head. The employee suffered a seizure as a result.
2019-02-09	Topeka	Kansas	Southern Cal Transportation	Hip(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
An employee slipped on ice in the parking lot and fell to the ground. The employee was hospitalized with a hip injury.
2019-01-04	Topeka	Kansas	RESERS FINE FOODS	Fingertip(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was pushing containers off of a machine's conveyor belt. Her right hand was on the containers that were accumulated on the belt when her right pinky finger was caught between the machine's product lane straightener mechanism, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
2018-08-27	Topeka	Kansas	Kansas CVS Pharmacy LLC	Forehead	Fall on same level
An employee fell on a sticky floor, suffering sore knees and a scrape/cut to the forehead above the eye. He was hospitalized.
2018-08-01	Topeka	Kansas	Asset Life Cycle LLC Material Reclamation Facility	Arm(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was cleaning the magnet on a machine's belt when the machine was activated. His hand was then caught in the machine, resulting in his right arm being severed at the shoulder. He was hospitalized.
2018-07-20	Topeka	Kansas	Randstad US LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was using a powered can opener. When the opener activated, it put pressure on her little finger, partially amputating it.
2018-07-10	Topeka	Kansas	H.M.E. Inc	Thigh(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
While operating a drill/saw machine, an employee attempted to see why the drill tooling kept falling out of the drill head. The machine's conveyor rollers then moved a channel iron back out of the machine, and the employee's left leg was struck by the channel iron, resulting in a laceration above the knee. The employee's left calf was also caught between the machine and the channel iron, suffering a muscle injury requiring surgery.
2018-06-19	Topeka	Kansas	Target Corporation	Ankle(s)	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
An employee attempted to walk over some cartons that were in the walkway. He tripped, lost his balance, and landed awkwardly on his right ankle, requiring hospitalization and surgery.
2018-06-15	Topeka	Kansas	The J.M. Smucker Company	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was taking a pallet off a loading station in a distribution center when the chain that creates movement on the line popped into motion and amputated his left index finger at the first knuckle behind the nail. Lockout/tagout procedures were not performed at the time of the incident.
2018-04-09	Topeka	Kansas	RESER'S FINE FOODS	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
An employee was standing underneath a column dumper cleaning up food waste when a cart of diced potatoes fell from the column dumper and struck the employee, causing multiple fractures and a punctured lung.
2018-03-30	Topeka	Kansas	Peak to Peak Engineered Railings LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was feeding handrails into a bending machine when his gloved right hand went into the machine, amputating the first digit of one of his fingers above the knuckle.
2018-03-12	Topeka	Kansas	Tarwaters Inc.	Elbow(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was trying to grab a box overhead while on a step ladder when he lost his footing and the step ladder tipped over. He fell to the concrete floor, lacerating both elbows and breaking his left elbow. He was hospitalized and had surgery.
2018-02-12	Topeka	Kansas	Legend Senior Living LLC	Thigh(s)	Fall on same level
An employee was walking down the hall and fell breaking her femur in two places.
2018-01-02	Topeka	Kansas	Frito-Lay	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was helping a coworker clean an area when she noticed an airlock was clogged up. As she attempted to unclog it, the paddle inside the airlock amputated three of her right-hand fingers.
2017-10-17	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was using a cleaning scrub pad and water hose to clean a horizontal mixer when his right hand entered the mixer opening and was caught in the machine resulting in a finger amputation.
2017-09-14	Topeka	Kansas	Topeka Foundry & Ironworks, Co	Ankle(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was working on a rolling conveyor that was set on top of two sawhorses. The conveyor shifted and fell off the sawhorses, landing on and fracturing the employee's right ankle.
2017-09-01	Topeka	Kansas	NPL Construction Company	Multiple face locations	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was using a portable grinder with a wire brush wheel to clean a metallic natural gas pipe in preparation for welding. The flow of natural gas had been stopped with a metallic stopper pin. As the employee was using the grinder, the stopper pin became dislodged from a seated position, resulting in a brief ignition of the natural gas. The employee suffered first and second degree burns to the right side of his face and nose.
2017-08-30	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods Inc	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee had been rinsing out the mixer and his left thumb went into the mixing area resulting in amputation above the top knuckle. The machine was guarded at the time.
2017-08-28	Topeka	Kansas	AmeriPride Services	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
While performing monthly preventative maintenance and wiping excess grease off a chain, an employee's left hand may have become caught in the chain and sprocket, amputating the second, third, and fourth fingers.
2017-08-24	Topeka	Kansas	US Food	Knee(s) and leg(s)	Part of occupant’s body caught between vehicle and other object in nonroadway transport incident
An employee was operating a triple pallet jack to lift cases when he ran into a support beam. His right thigh and knee were pinched between the equipment and beam, resulting in a contusion that required hospitalization.
2017-08-08	Topeka	Kansas	Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.	Lower leg(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was rolling a roll of liner so he could lift it using a forklift. The roll slipped off the carrier and injured the employee's lower left leg.
2017-07-26	Topeka	Kansas	Mars Chocolate North America	Arm(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee's left arm became caught and injured in a closing wrapper guard door.
2017-07-12	Topeka	Kansas	Clear View Inc	BODY SYSTEMS	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was using a 30-foot water fed pole to clean windows. The pole hit a power line and the employee was electrocuted.
2017-06-09	Topeka	Kansas	Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.	Multiple body parts	Caught in running equipment or machinery
An employee was trimming the top of the bead on the tire and was caught between the framework and the tire she was trimming resulting in a fractured pelvis and ankle.
2017-05-16	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods Inc	Heel(s)	Part of occupant’s body caught between vehicle and other object in nonroadway transport incident
An employee was driving a standup forklift in the warehouse when he struck a bump post that buffers pallet racks. His left heel was caught between the post and the lift, de-gloving his heel pad. His foot was outside the driver compartment at the time of the incident.
2017-05-01	Topeka	Kansas	Frito Lay Inc	Hand(s), except finger(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was attempting to put a pick conveyor's idler roller back in its track when his left hand was caught between the idler roller and the conveyor (pick) belt. His skin was removed from the back of his left hand, requiring hospitalization and surgery.
2017-04-11	Topeka	Kansas	Waste Management of Kansas Inc	Leg(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area
An employee was struck by a forklift as it was backing up in the recycle center resulting in a broken leg.
2017-03-31	Topeka	Kansas	FRITO-LAY, INC.	Brain	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
While climbing into the cab of a semi-tractor, an employee fell backward onto the pavement and struck their head. The employee was hospitalized with an internal hemorrhage.
2017-02-10	Topeka	Kansas	Reser's Fine Foods Burrito Plant	Neck, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was carrying a tub of burritos to be repackaged when he lost his balance and fell, suffering spinal injuries and a herniated disc.
2017-02-03	Topeka	Kansas	Superior Lighting, Inc.	Brain	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee was changing a lamp in a light fixture when he lost his balance and fell off an 8-foot ladder. He struck the concrete below and suffered a broken back bone, fractured skull, and brain trauma.
2017-01-25	Topeka	Kansas	Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.	Fingertip(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee engaged in bead building activities had their right ring fingertip amputated when it was caught in a pinch point on the bead wire spool.
2016-07-27	Topeka	Kansas	AT & T	Upper arm(s)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
On 07/27/2016, at 01:00 PM, an employee was descending from a pole step after connecting a drop wire when he fell 4 to 6 feet to the grass surface below, suffering an injury between the elbow and shoulder.
2016-07-24	Topeka	Kansas	Mill-Tel Inc	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level
An employee was on his ladder, replacing a mid-span drop. His ladder was resting on the strand (cable line from pole to pole). When he cut the line off at the mid span (toward the middle of the strand), quick release in tension caused him to fall from his ladder to the ground. He fractured his pelvis and chipped a bone in his ankle.
2016-07-22	Topeka	Kansas	USPS North Topeka	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee collapsed due to heat exposure while delivering mail, requiring overnight hospitalization.
2016-07-15	Topeka	Kansas	Langley Recycling, Inc.	Foot (feet)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was cutting a beam with a torch. When the beam was cut, it rolled and fell on and crushed both of the employee's feet.
2016-06-13	Topeka	Kansas	O'Reilly Auto Parts	Shoulder(s), including clavicle(s), scapula(e)	Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle
An employee was delivering auto parts. When he exited his vehicle, it rolled and ran him over. He was caught under the vehicle's wheel well and broke his collarbone.
2016-04-23	Topeka	Kansas	United States Marshal Service	Forearm(s)	Shooting by other person-intentional
An employee was shot in the left forearm while serving a warrant, requiring hospitalization.
2016-04-23	Topeka	Kansas	Federal Bureau of Investigation	Arm(s)	Shooting by other person-intentional
An employee was shot and wounded in the arm while serving an arrest warrant as part of an arrest team.
2016-01-29	Topeka	Kansas	Westar Energy, Inc.	Whole body	Excavation or trenching cave-in
An employee went into a 15-feet-deep trench to test if the cables were energized when the trench collapsed. The employee was crushed by the dirt and was hospitalized.
2016-01-23	Topeka	Kansas	GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO.	Fingertip(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery
An employee's right ring finger was pulled into and amputated by the chain and sprocket of a running machine. The machine was unguarded at the time.
2016-01-12	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods	Hip(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
An employee slipped and fell on spilt soybean oil while walking across the production floor. The employee was hospitalized with a right hip fracture.
2015-11-29	Topeka	Kansas	USPS	Leg(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
A mail carrier slipped and fell on ice, fracturing his leg. This resulted in an inpatient hospitalization for surgery.
2015-11-17	Topeka	Kansas	HME Inc.	Foot (feet)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
A plate machine operator had his foot on/under the plate machine and the moving gantry on the machine caught his foot and drug it causing a chip fracture and lacerations.
2015-10-31	Topeka	Kansas	Reser's Fine Foods	Fingertip(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee sustained a right middle fingertip amputation when a plastic reusable pallet tote fell onto her finger when she was trying to move it. She was hospitalized for surgery to repair the injury.
2015-08-02	Topeka	Kansas	Reser's Fine Food	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was cleaning a running tortilla conveyor belt when his left-hand, fifth finger got caught and partially amputated.
2015-04-24	Topeka	Kansas	Midway Sales & Distribution Inc.	Lower leg(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area
An employee was strapping down building material on a trailer. A second employee who was operating a forklift did not see the first employee and backed up. He ran over the first employee, causing a fracture and open wound to the first employee's left leg just above his ankle. The employee was hospitalized.
2015-04-13	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods	Elbow(s)	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
The employee was doing a quality line check in the hot fill area. As she turned around, she tripped over the water hose, fell, and sustained a comminuted fracture to her left elbow.
2015-04-10	Topeka	Kansas	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas	Ankle(s)	Bites and stings
On April 10, 2015, an employee was bitten by a spider on the right ankle while standing under a tree and patrolling the parking lot.
2015-04-06	Topeka	Kansas	Reser's Fine Foods Inc	Head and neck	Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue
The microphone/cord of a radio became entangled in a hose feeding Peroxyacetic Acid to a flume operation. When the employee stood up, the mic pulled the hose from the operation; his face and neck were sprayed with acid.
2015-03-19	Topeka	Kansas	Hy Vee	Fingertip(s)	Struck against moving part of machinery or equipment
An employee lacerated the left-hand middle fingertip while cleaning a meat slicer.
2015-02-12	Topeka	Kansas	Factory Motor Parts	Leg(s)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
Employee was using a ladder to get parts from a shelf when he slipped and fell a few feet to the floor. He broke his left leg and was hospitalized.
2015-02-05	Topeka	Kansas	GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO.	Multiple body parts	Exposure to harmful substances or environments
An employee was working on the center mac of the radial truck curing machine when he sustained 3rd degree burns to approximately 11 to 14% of the left side of his body.
2015-02-03	Topeka	Kansas	Resers Fine Foods	Fingertip(s)	Contact with objects and equipment
Worker lost the tip of her pinky finger in a feeder machine while pushing prepackaged food (macaroni and cheese) forward.
2015-01-31	Topeka	Kansas	U.S. Postal Service	Lower leg(s)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee had just finished delivering a package and was walking down a set of carpeted stairs when the employee tripped. The employee fell down about 4 to 5 stairs and landed on the ankle, fracturing a bone in the lower leg; employee required surgery and a hospital admittance.
2015-01-07	Topeka	Kansas	Healthcare Services Group	Hip(s)	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
Laundry employee was sorting laundry and tripped over laundry on the floor. Employee fell onto the floor and fractured the right hip.