Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-10-25	Liberal	Ks	JV Energy Services Inc	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Other fall to lower level
An oil derrick hand fell off the oil derrick platform and struck the derrick during the fall resulting in a fractured back.
2021-06-25	Madison	Wi	Hooper Corporation	Foot(feet) and knee(s)	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was directing the operator of a digger derrick in placing a wooden utility pole in the ground when the insulated boom of the digger derrick contacted an overhead powerline and the employee's leg contacted the energized utility pole, resulting in third degree burns to his knee and foot.
2020-10-01	Yoakum	Tx	MESA SOUTHERN WELL SERVICING, LP RIG 210	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was on a derrick connecting drilling rods. His fingers were caught between a drilling rod and a winch line and a finger was amputated.
2020-09-22	Council Grove	Ks	Flint Hills Rural Electric Coop Association Inc.	Multiple body parts	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
A work crew was unloading a used 35-foot power pole to a residential site. The pole rolled off the digger derrick truck, fell approximately 30 feet, and landed on the injured employee. The employee was hospitalized for a concussion, a fractured shoulder and ribs, and internal injuries.
2020-04-07	Saint Joseph	Missouri	ALTEC INDUSTRIES, INC.	Ankle(s)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee was on the back of a digger derrick, prepping the unit for an endurance test. The employee was using a torque wrench to remove bolts for analysis. As the employee was applying force, the socket slipped from the bolt resulting in a loss of balance. The employee fell 4' 7" from the back of the truck onto the ground. The employee landed on both feet and sustained a broken left ankle that required surgery.
2020-02-21	Hornbeck	Louisiana	Southwestern Electric Power Company	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was operating a digger derrick to dig for utility line access. While he was troubleshooting the faulty boom of the truck, his hand was placed on the boom, crushing his left ring finger.
2020-01-13	Shelbyville	Texas	Davis Chemical Services, LLC.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was working with others on top of a derrick to drill a pipe into the ground. He placed his hands on the pipe to steady it and his fingertips were caught between the collar and elevator, resulting in middle and ring fingertip amputations.
2019-09-16	Stanton	Texas	Viva Energy Services LLC	Leg(s)	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
An employee was pulling tubing at a well site when an object fell off the derrick and punctured the employee's leg.
2019-09-06	Sault Sainte Marie	Michigan	US Army Corps of Engineers	Lower leg(s)	Fall or jump from water vehicle
An employee was setting the anchor for an ice-boom onboard a derrick boat. The employee cut a line that was holding the anchor chain and was then struck by a rigging chain. The employee sustained fractures to both bones in the lower right leg and a shoulder injury from falling overboard.
2019-09-04	Woodward	Oklahoma	Edge Services, Inc.	Hand(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery
An employee's hand was inside a derrick girder when his hand was struck and fractured by the rig's top drive.
2019-08-22	Riverside	Missouri	Capital Electric Line Builders	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was helping others to pull a pole from a stack and load it onto a digger derrick when the pole fell and struck the employee, fracturing his pelvis and puncturing his bladder.
2019-08-10	Beasley	Texas	Center Point Energy Houston Electric, LLC	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level
An employee was coming down from a derrick digger truck boom's seat when he fell to the ground, suffering a head abrasion and fractures to both heels, his tailbone, his right ankle, and a toe on his right foot. He was hospitalized.
2019-07-22	Denton	Texas	Keter Well Service Inc.	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet
An employee was getting ready to place a pin in the rod basket. The employee slipped and fell approximately 14.5 feet from the top of the derrick to the ground below and sustained a fractured skull, fractures to the face, and a fractured right hand.
2019-06-03	Azle	Texas	AAA Well Service	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
At about 10:30 a.m. on June 3, 2019, an employee was on an oil rig that was being rigged down. As the rig was reaching half mast, the employee was on the rear of the rig, placing the weight bucket onto the storage hook. As he dismounted the rig, he lost his footing and his right hand was caught in a pinch point between the top and bottom sections of the derrick mast as it came down. He suffered injuries, including an amputation injury, to the index, middle, and ring fingers.
2019-02-25	Watonga	Oklahoma	Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Company	Forearm(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
A derrickman was trying to latch a stand of drill pipe at the derrick board. The stand pulled him off the board, pinning his left forearm against the safety gate and breaking it.
2019-01-10	Midland	Texas	Endeavor Energy	Multiple body parts	Struck by object or equipment
An employee was unhooking the rig floor from the derrick when the rig floor struck the employee. The employee was hospitalized with leg and rib fractures.
2018-07-18	Ranger	Texas	Petex Ltd	Wrist(s)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee was working on a work-over rig. The employee climbed onto a derrick, about 5 feet above the ground, then slipped and fell to the ground. The employee's left wrist was fractured.
2018-06-13	Grand Prairie	Texas	Standard Utility Construction, Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was standing at the rear of a digger derrick truck loading it. The employee's finger was caught between a railing and a concrete pier as it was being loaded into the truck. The left index fingertip was amputated.
2018-05-15	Livingston	Texas	Cotton Utility Constructors, Inc.	Lumbar region	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee was climbing onto the operator's seat of a digger derrick when he lost his balance and fell backwards 6 to 8 feet to the ground. He suffered a lower back compression fracture.
2018-04-18	Rochester	New York	Rochester Gas & Electric	Knee(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was removing debris from the job site and was on a digger derrick dumpster truck when he fell off the truck edge to the ground, fracturing his patella and lacerating his forehead.
2018-04-17	Darrow	Louisiana	Cooper Consolidated, LLC.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Machinery or equipment incident on water vehicle
An employee was descending the aft port ladder of a derrick to remove a rope from the barge kevel when he slipped and grabbed the winch cable with his right hand. The cable was moving and his right hand was pulled into the snatch block, causing a laceration and amputation of two fingers.
2018-04-11	Mentone	Texas	Trinidad Drilling Limited Partnership	Hand(s) and wrist(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was attempting to load a derrick board onto a flatbed haul truck with a forklift. His hand was between the forklift fork and derrick board as he tried to remove a rope from the bottom section of the derrick tarp. The derrick board then shifted, catching his right hand and wrist between the derrick board and forklift fork. He suffered fractures to the right wrist and hand.
2018-03-30	Midland	Texas	Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
A crew was in the process of putting a sub-spreader beam in place so that they could raise the rig floor. An employee's hand was resting on the spreader beam when the derrick hand pulled the beam from its stowed position. The employee's small finger was then caught between the spreader beam and the sub leg, amputating his fingertip.
2018-03-02	Knott	Texas	AAA Well Service, LLC	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by object or equipment
A crew was rigging down when a weight bucket became hung up while the derrick was being scoped in. One of the employees pulled on the cable, causing the climbing assist weight to come loose and descend toward him. As a result, he let go of the line and was struck by the weight. He suffered a right arm fracture, broken ribs, and lacerations to his left gallbladder and kidney.
2018-01-31	Midland	Texas	Integrity Services, LLC	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was tripping pipe (drilling the pipe down) and screening a drill collar into a stump. He and another employee pushed the tongs into the spinning pipe. The tongs then bit back, crushing him between the tongs and the derrick leg. He received fractures to his upper torso and punctured both lungs.
2018-01-27	Crane	Texas	SPN Well Services Rigs	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
An employee had been in a derrick helping a snubbing unit crew change out a stiff arm. He was coming down from the derrick when the snubbing unit dropped the short stiff arm, which then caught his left index finger against the handrail. He suffered an open compound fracture to his finger.
2018-01-09	Saint Martinville	Louisiana	CAJUN WELL SERVICE	Pelvis	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
While pulling drilling rods, a driller did not stop and hit the crown of a derrick block. The rods then hit a derrickman, breaking his pelvis.
2017-09-11	Middletown	New York	Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee was auguring in a new pole on top of the digger derrick. The old pole cracked even more as it moved and falling telephone cables struck the employee on the chest knocking him about 10 feet to the ground. The employee sustained three fractured ribs.
2017-08-07	Alva	Oklahoma	Felderhoff Brothers Drilling	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was attempting to remove a pin from a derrick when a forklift operator moved the derrick board unexpectedly. The employee's right thumb was then caught and amputated between the pin and the handrail.
2017-07-29	Stanton	Texas	Eastham Drilling Inc.	Multiple trunk locations	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
While rigging up the top drive, employees needed to move the Kelly hose into position. They had to swing the ST-80 all the way around. The injured employee was in a crush point, and his foot was caught while stepping out of the crush point. The ST-80 was pulled over, trapping the employee's body between the ST-80 and the derrick leg. The employee sustained three broken ribs, a lacerated liver, and a collapsed lung, all on the right side.
2017-07-21	Laurel	Mississippi	Pitts Wabbing Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was raising a derrick on an oil platform when the derrick came in contact with a high-voltage power line. The employee suffered electrical burns.
2017-04-26	Fultondale	Alabama	Alabama Power Company	Multiple body parts	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee finished installing power line poles and stepped into a truck. The truck derrick made contact with the power line (12kV), resulting in electric shock to the employee. The employee received burns to the hands, feet, and internal body parts.
2017-04-04	Forrest City	Arkansas	Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corporation	Fingertip(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was replacing switches on the outriggers of a digger derrick. After the employee replaced the switches he adjusted the outriggers. The employee placed a bolt in the access hole of the outrigger to adjust it and pulled the lever to raise it. As the outrigger came up, it caught his right middle finger between it and the bolt, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
2017-03-29	Bryan	Texas	Northfield Enterprises Inc	Brain	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
A derrick on a workover rig fell and struck an employee in the head. He was wearing a hardhat at the time.
2017-03-10	Arnett	Oklahoma	Power Rigs, LLC	Knee(s) and leg(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
A drilling rig was tripping out of the well. The derrick employee was moving the top of a pipe stand to the racking fingers when the employee's retractable lanyard line was caught by the descending top drive and he was pulled to his knees on the derrick platform. The employee sustained a left knee fracture and vascular damage to the left thigh.
2016-10-18	Sarasota	Florida	Associated Diversified Services, LLC	Upper and lower limb(s)	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
An employee was digging a ditch underneath a digger derrick that was lifting a transformer onto a pole. The rope holding the transformer broke and the transformer fell, hitting and fracturing the employee's arm, leg, and heel.
2016-09-29	Napoleon	North Dakota	Primoris Aevenia Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was installing an auger on a digger derrick. As he slid the kelly bar down into the sleeve, the bar/sleeve amputated his fingertip.
2016-09-20	Little Meadows	Pennsylvania	Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
While tripping pipe on a derrick, an employee's left index finger was pinched between a metal beam and a driller collar, amputating the fingertip.
2016-09-11	Delmont	Pennsylvania	Wyoming Casing Service, Inc.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld, n.e.c.
An employee was working on a rig floor. A casing basket fell into the tongs of a nearby rig, and the tongs would not release. Both retaining chains to the tongs released and the tong movement lever activated. The tongs swung and hit an employee, pinning him between the tongs and a derrick mast. He suffered one broken rib and one bruised lung.
2016-08-11	Graham	Texas	Petroleum Exploration Company, LTD	Trunk	Other fall to lower level
An employee was connecting pipes on the drilling rig from the derrick position. The employee fell from the derrick to the rig floor, suffering torso injuries.
2016-07-05	Blanchester	Ohio	The Hydaker-Wheatlake Co.	Nonclassifiable	Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
Employees were removing an old utility pole with a digger derrick. One employee was at the base of the pole, guiding it, when he was shocked by the 19.9k-volts line. He suffered burns throughout his body.
2016-07-01	Waltonville	Illinois	Pioneer Oil Field Services	Ankle(s) and leg(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects, n.e.c.
On 7/1/16, at approximately 6:30 PM, an employee was helping to pull tubing from a derrick rig. The employee climbed the derrick structure to attach the necessary rigging. As he descended to the working level, his climb assist became caught/wrapped in the gooseneck assembly. He was then pulled into the derrick board, breaking his tibia and dislocating his ankle.
2016-06-15	Mcgregor	North Dakota	Capital Well Service, LLC.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was running a string of pipe from a derrick basket when his shirt was caught by the rotating torque rod. It pulled his shirt tight, compressing his chest against the derrick basket. He suffered chest bruising and lost consciousness, requiring hospitalization.
2016-05-11	Sunrise	Florida	YOUNGQUIST BROTHERS, INC	Mouth	Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld, n.e.c.
An employee was tailing in a piece of pipe while the drill rig was picking up the other end. The pipe swung into the derrick of the rig and caused the other end of the pipe to flip up, striking the employee in the mouth.
2016-05-04	Brownfield	Texas	ZJ Falcon LP dba Falcon Energy Services	Multiple body parts	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
Employees laid a pump down and prepared to put a blowout preventer on the well head when one of the rods fell from the derrick and struck the ground. The top of it struck the employee on the right shoulder and neck area.
2015-12-29	Fort Myers	Florida	YOUNGQUIST BROTHERS, INC.	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Fall or jump curtailed by personal fall arrest system
An employee was working on a derrick about 10 feet off the ground and was being lifted to disconnect the elevator. A wire rope under tension snapped back striking the employee and throwing him in the air and then back down. The employee was wearing a safety harness and he only fell the length of his lanyard or about 4 feet. The employee injured his back and was hospitalized.
2015-11-27	Watonga	Oklahoma	Helmerich and Payne, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet
An employee working on a oil and gas drilling rig fell from a height of 85 feet due to icy conditions on the derrick board. The ladder safety device did not engage properly resulting in the employee's fall. The employee was hospitalized with multiple broken bones, internal injuries, and lacerations.
2015-11-23	New Town	North Dakota	Wyoming Casing Services	Hand(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was installing casing joints in a well using tongs when the bite of the tongs malfunctioned and the tongs bucked unexpectedly. The employee's hand got crushed between the tongs and the derrick, causing hand fractures.
2015-11-12	Whitesboro	Texas	TruPoint Well Service	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was working in the rod basket of a well-servicing rig when the operator raised the block into the rig derrick. The block bumped the basket, and the employee grabbed the side. His left middle finger got caught between the basket and the derrick, pinching off the end of his finger. The end of his left middle finger was surgically amputated (including bone).
2015-11-11	Mcfaddin	Texas	Arrow Drilling Company, Inc.	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Explosion, n.e.c.
An employee was working on the monkey board on an oil rig. There was a high-pressure gas kick (air pocket of gas) during drilling, and the force of the sudden explosion sent the employee flying upward. The employee's back struck the guard rail on the derrick board and was fractured, requiring surgery.
2015-10-30	Martinez	California	Cherne	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was removing excess grease lube from a boom drum on the derrick with a putty knife and got his right hand fingers caught in the rotating metal gears. His right index finger was amputated and the right middle, ring and pinky fingers were crushed.
2015-10-30	Terral	Oklahoma	Associated Diversified Services, Inc.	Brain	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
An employee was connecting a digger/derrick hoisting hook to a material trailer. The digger/derrick started picking up the trailer and the hook slipped off. The hook struck the employee in the face causing blunt force trauma to the face including facial fractures and coma.
2015-10-12	Benkelman	Nebraska	Murfin Drilling	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level
An employee fell from an drilling derrick while in the process of disassembling the unit. The employee suffered injuries to the head, face and right leg as a result of the fall.
2015-09-03	Albion	Illinois	Pratt Well Service, Inc.	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee was conducting work on the 60-feet-high platform of an oil derrick, operating rigging to move piping into position. The employee became sick, vomited, experienced cramps, and was eventually hospitalized for heat-related health issues.
2015-08-21	Coral Springs	Florida	Pike Corporation, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was hooking up a backyard machine to a digger derrick when the employee's finger got caught between the hook and the backyard machine. The employee's pinky finger broke.
2015-08-19	Norcross	Georgia	U-TEC CONSTRUCTION , INC	Nonclassifiable	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was installing light posts when the derrick truck swung the light post and contacted the power line behind them. The trailer holding the post became energized, and the employee received severe electrical burns.
2015-07-05	Whitsett	Texas	Texas CES, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
Employees were rigging down the workover rig at about 11:30 a.m., on July 5, when an employee's right thumb and first finger were caught between the derrick tip section and stop plate. The employee's thumb had to be surgically amputated.
2015-05-12	Chickasha	Oklahoma	Kenai Mid-Continent, Inc.	Toes(s), toenail(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
While being lifted by a derrick air hoist during oil well drilling operations, an employee's steel-toe boot got caught under the steel cross member "girt" of the derrick. The toe was amputated inside the boot.
2015-03-30	Saint Francis	Kansas	Murfin Drilling Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
An employee's hand got caught between elevators and a derrick. The employee sustained a laceration between the ring and small fingers on the right hand, as well as a fractured small finger.
2015-03-26	Amarillo	Texas	Express Energy Services, LLC	Wrist(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation
An employee was stabbing up in the derrick while a pipe was being brought up on an elevator. As the employee reached to unlatch the elevator, the tongs engaged, striking the employee's left hand resulting in a broken wrist.
2015-02-25	Williston	North Dakota	Pioneer Well Service	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by falling object or equipment
Two employees were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during maintenance operations on a workover rig in the maintenance shop. One employee suffered a crushing injury when a derrick floor fell on his chest, breaking ribs and causing a collapsed lung. A second employee suffered a broken elbow due to a fall sustained while attempting to hold the falling rig floor.
2015-02-10	Belle Chasse	Louisiana	CC 111 LLC	Multiple face locations	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
Employees were removing derricks while unloading a ship. A breasting cable got hung up on a derrick. When the employees pulled the cable, the pressure caused the line to snap. The line struck two of the employees along the right side of their faces.
2015-01-23	Ulysses	Kansas	Wyoming Casing Service	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
An employee was on the stabbing board to hang the tong line. He unhooked the derrick climber from his harness and when he let go of it he was hit in the mouth, lost his footing, and fell even though his lanyard was attached. His face hit the standpipe of the derrick and the 3 foot fall injured his back.
2015-01-08	Williston	North Dakota	Ensign Energy Services	Multiple body parts	Fall or jump curtailed by personal fall arrest system
Employee was on the side of the derrick untying tubular when his fast line became caught up in his SRL. The employee was pulled away from the ladder. The SRL stopped and so did the anchor. Therefore, no fall resulted. The employee received contusions to the head, ribs, and chest area. He also suffered bruising to the brain and lungs and received six stitches to the forehead. He did not lose consciousness.
2015-01-08	Flushing	New York	E-J Electric Installation Co	Lower leg(s)	Struck by rolling object or equipment-other than powered vehicle
Employee used a derrick with a tong to unload a utility pole out of a storage area on the ground. The pole rolled onto the employee's leg as he tried to reorient the tong. The left fibula was broken.
2015-01-08	Sarita	Texas	Basic Energy Services, L.P.	Knee(s)	Struck against stationary object or equipment, n.e.c.
Employee was working from the derrick monkey board latching and unlatching tubing. As he was unlatching the elevator that has horns and a locking mechanism, the employee's harness got caught on the horns. The horns pulled the harness and pulled him down causing small fractures in his knees that required surgery.
2015-01-04	Crane	Texas	Lewis Casing Crews Inc.	Multiple body parts	Other fall to lower level
Employee was descending a work over rig derrick via a ladder when he fell a distance. Employee suffered a lacerated spleen and fractured hip and shoulder.