Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-11-16	Fort Worth	Tx	Conatser Construction Inc	Ankle(s) and leg(s)	Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in nonroadway area
An employee was standing outside a 5-foot diameter concrete manhole riser installing sealant near an excavator. The excavator moved forward and pinned the employee against the riser. The employee sustained a broken leg and ankle and was hospitalized.
2021-10-15	Manvel	Tx	Municipal Operations & Consulting	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
On October 15, 2021, an employee was opening a manhole. With his right hand, he had lifted the cover using a manhole pick; he was reaching to secure it with his left hand when it slipped off the pick and pinched his left index finger. The fingertip was amputated. He was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
2021-09-27	Daytona Beach Shores	Fl	Valencia Construction Group, Inc.	Shoulder(s), including clavicle(s), scapula(e)	Fall through surface or existing opening less than 6 feet
On September 27, 2021, an employee was using a measuring tape and string to measure the alignment for the storm piping being installed inside a 4-foot trench. Afterwards, the employee stood on a drain manhole with a plywood cover on its opening. The plywood broke and the employee fell about 4 feet into the manhole, resulting in a bruised shoulder that required hospitalization.
2021-09-23	Denver	Co	Lucky Dog Contracting, Inc	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with objects and equipment
An employee was cleaning up a jobsite and lifted a concrete manhole cover when the cover crushed three of the employee's fingers resulting in amputation.
2021-09-09	Tavares	Fl	United Signs & Signals, Inc.	Scalp	Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle
On September 9, 2021, an employee was setting a manhole's cover back in place when the arm of a mini-excavator struck his hard hat, knocking him to the ground and causing a laceration to the back of his head. He was hospitalized.
2021-09-04	San Pedro	Ca	YUSEN TERMINALS INC.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall on water vehicle
On a vessel, an employee stepped into an open manhole and fell to the deck. The employee sustained fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.
2021-09-01	Dallas	Tx	Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee had been setting up before entering a manhole. He became overheated and was later hospitalized with dehydration.
2021-09-01	Pittsburgh	Pa	Carnegie Mellon University	Brain	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was disassembling a manhole cover lifter to be loaded into a work van. As the employee was removing the magnetic attachment and bent over to pick it up, the long handle fell down, hitting the employee on the head. The employee suffered a concussion.
2021-07-27	Fairburn	Ga	Atlas Technical Consultants LLC	Foot (feet)	Fall through surface or existing opening
While pushing a distance wheel, an employee stepped on a sewer manhole cover that gave way, resulting in an injured right foot.
2021-07-27	Conshohocken	Pa	Bimbo Bakeries USA	Multiple body parts	Fall on same level due to tripping on uneven surface
An employee was stepping out of a truck. The employee's left ankle twisted on a manhole cover, and the employee fell to the ground, suffering a sprained ankle and a ruptured hernia.
2021-05-21	Saint Louis	Mo	AMEREN MISSOURI	Forearm(s)	Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld, n.e.c.
An employee was cranking the handle of a material winch to raise a 6.5-foot lead cable from a manhole. At the apex, he released the crank handle and tried to retrieve the cable and pull it away from the opening. As the cable started to drop down into the manhole, the crank handle started freely spinning and struck his left forearm, breaking it.
2021-03-24	Brookline	Ma	KAPLAN CORPORATION	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
Three Kaplan Corporation employees were helping a delivery driver, who was using a pallet jack to unload a pallet of glass from a delivery truck. One of the jack's wheels hung up on uneven pavement around a manhole cover. One of the employees was trying to free the wheel when the jack's hydraulics were released and it dropped its load to the ground. The employee's right index finger was amputated at the first knuckle.
2021-03-23	Manchester	Ct	Wickham Park Trust	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
The injured employee was lifting a manhole cover with another crew member when it slipped off the lifting hook. The injured employee's left index finger was caught under the manhole cover and the fingertip was amputated.
2021-03-11	Houston	Tx	Stuckey's LLC	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Other fall to lower level
An employee was using a ladder to get inside a manhole to measure a pipe that was being replaced. The employee fell from the ladder to the ground and suffered a compression fracture in their back. The employee was hospitalized.
2021-02-08	Bethany	La	Patterson-UTI Energy Inc	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was closing a manhole cover in the floor of a mud pit when a disconnected 6-inch discharge line lying next to the cover shifted, pinching the end of the employee's finger between the floor grating and the discharge line. The employee suffered an amputation of the tip of his left middle finger.
2021-01-07	Tavares	Fl	Ciraco Underground, Inc.	Leg(s)	Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet
Employees had just finished a vacuum test on a sewer manhole. They removed the vacuum test lid from the manhole and were moving to place it into the back of a truck when one of the employees fell into the manhole, landing 13 feet below and suffering a broken left leg.
2020-09-11	Dekalb	Il	Elliott and Wood Inc.	Head and trunk	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway
An employee was replacing manhole covers in the road and was struck by a passing car. The employee suffered a concussion and a broken back and was hospitalized.
2020-09-05	Cleveland	Oh	C & K Industrial Services, Inc.	Trunk	Struck by discharged object or substance
On the morning of 9/05/2020, an employee was using a water jet machine to clear a plugged sewer line. Around 11:48 AM, the jetter nozzle struck an obstacle in the line that caused it to change direction back toward the sewer line opening. Once the nozzle reached the opening of the manhole, the backjets sent the nozzle up the manhole. The nozzle struck the employee in the torso, knocked him over, and got caught in the clothes around his torso while still under pressure. The employee sustained pun
2020-08-26	Manor	Tx	Austin Underground Inc.	Neck, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
An employee was in a manhole, tending a ladder while a pipe plug was being deflated. The pressure inside the pipe caused the plug to pop out of the pipe and strike the access ladder inside the manhole. The ladder in turn struck the employee in the throat, causing a neck contusion.
2020-08-17	Claremont	Nh	Green Mountain Pipeline Services, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Exposure to harmful substances or environments
An employee was installing a pipe liner in a sewer manhole and suffered second-degree burns.
2020-07-10	Wichita Falls	Texas	F.G. Haggerty Company, Inc.	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was using rigging to replace a manhole. The lifting jib fell into the hole, striking the employee in the abdomen.
2020-06-24	Houston	Texas	SER Construction Partners, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Other fall to lower level
An employee was removing an extractor fan from the top of a manhole when he stepped forward and fell into the manhole. He sustained multiple broken bones.
2020-06-18	Aransas Pass	Texas	Park Derochie (Coatings & Linings) LLC	Fingertip(s)	Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle
An employee was moving forks on a zoom boom telehandler to fit into a manhole when the forks became stuck. As he was trying to push them over, the forks swung back and caught his right middle finger, crushing and severing the tip.
2020-06-12	Jacksonville	Florida	Lee Engineering & Construction Company	Arm(s)	Struck by discharged object or substance
An employee was working inside a manhole, trying to connect an air gun to the an compressor. Air pressure built up; the air gun popped off and hit him between his elbow and wrist on his left arm. He developed cellulitis and was hospitalized.
2020-06-05	Schuyler	Nebraska	Cargill Protein	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee used a hook to pry up a cast iron manhole cover to check if water was flowing through the drain system. The cover slipped from the hook and fell on his right middle fingertip, causing an amputation that included bone.
2020-05-12	Houston	Texas	Centerpoint Energy Houston Electric	Arm(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone
Two employees were working in a manhole within a roadwork zone. A vehicle crossed into the work zone and struck the employees. One of them suffered multiple fractures and was hospitalized.
2020-05-05	San Antonio	Texas	SACC, INC.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was setting a ring on a manhole when the ring came down on and crushed his left middle fingertip, amputating the underside and half of his fingernail.
2020-03-17	Aspen	Colorado	Mountain Temp Services, LLC	Brain	Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet
A temporary employee fell through a manhole at a demolition site, landing 14 feet below and suffering a severe head injury and broken ribs.
2020-02-17	Atlanta	Georgia	Ruby Collins Construction	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was lifting a manhole cover when it slipped and pinched his left middle finger, causing an avulsion.
2019-08-19	Fort Worth	Texas	Flatiron Constructors Incorporated	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was attempting to lift a manhole cover when the cover caught the employee's right middle fingertip, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
2019-08-16	Winter Garden	Florida	AMERICAN IN-LINE INSPECTION SERVICE, INC.	Toes(s), toenail(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area
An employee was sitting on a truck, lowering a camera into a manhole. A front end loader struck him, causing amputations to his right big and second toes.
2019-08-07	Aubrey	Texas	Gilco Contracting, Inc.	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee became overheated and suffered heat exhaustion while working in a manhole.
2019-07-17	Sheridan	Arkansas	GARRETT EXCAVATING, INC.	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee was building manhole tops at a construction worksite. After work, the employee was hospitalized for heat stress and dehydration.
2019-07-11	Broomfield	Colorado	Granite Construction, Inc.	Toes(s), toenail(s)	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
Employees were working to re-line sewer lines with a fiberglass liner. The employees had cut out a piece of fiberglass liner and were pulling it up using a forklift and rope when the piece caught on the manhole rim. The rope was severed and the piece fell and struck an employee, who was in the manhole, on the left foot amputating the middle toe.
2019-06-22	Robins A F B	Georgia	U.S. Department of the Air Force-Robins Air Force Base	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was preparing to replace wires in a manhole. As he was slicing a cable, the knife slipped out of his hand and cut his finger at the second joint where the finger bends, resulting in a pinky finger amputation.
2019-06-04	Yaphank	New York	KAR Auction Services Inc.	Leg(s)	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
An employee was walking in the vehicle check-in area, tripped on a manhole cover and fell to the ground. The employee sustained cuts on his face, a torn muscle in the left leg, and a pulled hamstring in the left leg.
2019-05-09	New York	New York	Con Edison	Wrist(s)	Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was in a manhole when he mis-stepped and lost his balance. His right hand then contacted an energized wire, causing an arc flash that burned his right wrist. He was hospitalized.
2019-03-13	Washington	District Of	Pessoa Construction Inc.	Lower leg(s)	Fall through surface or existing opening less than 6 feet
While moving a traffic barrel/drum, an employee fell into an open manhole. His left tibia was broken in the 2-foot fall.
2019-02-28	Starkville	Mississippi	A T & T	Pelvis	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee fell backward while removing a manhole cover, landing on the pavement and suffering a broken pelvis.
2019-02-14	Fort Worth	Texas	Circle C Utility Partners, LP	Ankle(s) and knee(s)	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
An employee fell off a manhole structure to the ground 8-10 feet below, suffering a broken right knee and a hairline fracture to the left ankle.
2018-08-31	Canal Winchester	Ohio	Seals Construction, Inc.	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
At 3:11 a.m. on August 31, 2018, while working in a manhole, an employee was overcome by an unknown air contaminant and lost consciousness. A second employee entered the manhole to rescue the first, but also lost consciousness. One of the employees was hospitalized.
2018-08-28	Newark	New Jersey	George Harm Construction Co., Inc.	BODY SYSTEMS	Exposure to environmental heat
An employee became ill due to heat stress while performing masonry work on a manhole, requiring hospitalization.
2018-08-24	Elmira	New York	National Cemetery Administration	BODY SYSTEMS	Depletion of oxygen
While in a manhole, investigating water complaints from cemetery visitors, an employee lost consciousness due to lack of oxygen.
2018-07-25	Victoria	Texas	G.S.D. Trading U.S.A., Inc.	Foot (feet)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was manually lifting a steel manhole cover when it fell on his left foot. He suffered a fracture of his left foot metatarsal bone, requiring hospitalization.
2018-07-13	Hoover	Alabama	B & H Contracting, Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was waiting on a backhoe to bring a manhole down from a stock pile to be installed at a pump station. The employee was sliding the manhole ring when a bolt that holds the backhoe blade caught the ring and lid. This caused the employee to lose his grip, and the ring and lid dropped on his left hand, smashing his index and ring fingers and resulting in a middle fingertip amputation.
2018-07-10	Mc Cook	Illinois	Meade Electric	Arm(s)	Pedestrian vehicular incident, n.e.c.
An employee was working near a manhole when a car drove through the work zone and caught the line/cords to the employee’s water pump equipment, causing the equipment to strike the employee’s right arm.
2018-07-02	Arlington Heights	Illinois	Hoerr Construction, Inc.	Face	Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld, n.e.c.
An employee was cleaning a sewer line with a hydro-jet. While he was pulling the hose, it came too far out of the manhole and the nozzle struck the employee's face, lacerating it.
2018-06-12	Washington	District Of	Gainesville Plumbing, LLC.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was using a pry bar to lift a manhole cover. The manhole cover slipped and fell onto the employee's left middle finger, crushing the fingertip. The fingertip was amputated.
2018-06-06	Washington	District Of	Dynamic Concepts, Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was using a bar to open the manhole. The manhole cover slipped and smashed the tip of his middle finger resulting in amputation.
2018-06-04	Racine	Wisconsin	Payne & Dolan, Inc.	Thigh(s)	Fall on same level due to tripping over an object
An employee was walking on the jobsite, tripped over an elevated manhole and fell to the ground. The employee sustained a broken femur.
2018-05-18	Peoria	Illinois	Ameren Illinois Company	Arm(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was climbing out of an open air electrical vault. As the employee reached to gain access out of the vault, the manhole grate door became dislodged and fell onto the employee's right arm, fracturing it.
2018-04-18	New Canaan	Connecticut	Rooter Plumbing Hudwson Valley, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
At around 3:30 PM, an employee was using a tool to pry open a manhole to clear the main drain line when the tool slipped while his thumb was in the manhole. The manhole lid then came down on his left thumb and severed it above the knuckle.
2018-02-15	Key West	Florida	Operations Management International, Inc.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall through surface or existing opening less than 6 feet
A crew of four employees was cleaning out storm water sediment traps using a hydraulic pump to remove the water from the gravity well and then a vac truck to remove the sand and other debris caught in the sediment traps (using a cage to surround the manhole while performing the work). The crew had finished cleaning the sediment traps and three of the employees were putting the equipment back in the truck. The injured employee was replacing the manhole cover and fell approximately five feet into
2018-02-13	South Plainfield	New Jersey	Clean Harbors	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with objects and equipment
An employee's right thumb was crushed by a manhole cover.
2018-01-23	El Paso	Texas	Martinez Brothers Contractors, LLC	Brain	Struck by object or equipment
An employee was in a manhole getting ready to test a pressurized sewer line when the line plug struck the employee's head.
2017-10-17	Austin	Texas	Denbow Company, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was attempting to remove a manhole lid when it slipped and pinched his left middle finger between the lid and the manhole rim. Skin was removed from his finger (no bone or fingernail loss).
2017-10-16	New Orleans	Louisiana	Beverly Industries, Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was raising a manhole cover/ring to the proper height when the cover/ring was caught on some cable and fell on the employee's right index finger, amputating the fingertip.
2017-10-14	Long Beach	California	LONG BEACH CONTAINER TERMINAL INC.	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Fall onto or against object on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was about to descend a ladder when the employee's hand slipped. The employee then fell backward and hit a manhole opening, suffering a back contusion.
2017-09-14	New York	New York	Con Ed	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall through surface or existing opening 6 to 10 feet
An employee working outside of a steam manhole fell 8 feet to the bottom of the manhole and sustained broken ribs.
2017-08-02	Maryland Heights	Missouri	Grease Masters LLC	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
An employee entered a sewer manhole after flushing the sewer. As he attempted to exit the approximately 91-inch-deep space, he was exposed to hydrogen sulfide and collapsed. He was hospitalized.
2017-07-26	Green Bay	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Public Service	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
On July 26, 2017, an employee was using a pry bar to lift a manhole cover when the pry bar slipped and the cover landed on his left hand, amputating the ring finger.
2017-07-25	Kennesaw	Georgia	Arcadis US Inc.	Back, including spine, spinal cord	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was opening a manhole with a tool when the tool slipped and he fell, fracturing a vertebra in his back.
2017-07-21	Lyons	Georgia	Chicken of the Sea	Multiple body parts	Contact with hot objects or substances
On July 21, 2017, an employee was working on a water leak from a clogged piping system. The piping system ran from the boiler to a manhole in the discharge area. The employee went into the manhole and put a plug in the piping system to help find the leak. The blockage was located and corrected. At around 12:30 PM, the employee went back into the manhole to remove the plug. When the employee removed the plug, hot water spewed onto the employee's right leg, buttock, and thigh, causing burns that r
2017-07-11	Midland	Texas	Lockhart Excavation LLC	Ankle(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was climbing down a ladder into a manhole and slipped and fell. The employee landed on his right ankle fracturing it.
2017-07-03	Lafayette	Louisiana	Macro Companies, Inc	Brain	Other fall to lower level 21 to 25 feet
An employee was operating a winch boom crane bucket truck. The employee was in the bucket using the winch to remove a manhole cover that was stuck. The manhole cover released and the bucket truck bucked, throwing the employee out of the bucket. The employee fell 25 feet to the concrete pad and suffered head trauma. A harness was not worn at the time of the incident.
2017-06-29	Tampa	Florida	United Rentals, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part
An employee was struck by a 2,000-pound trench manhole that fell from a truck to the ground. The employee suffered a broken pelvis, broken wrist, internal injuries, and a head laceration.
2017-06-08	Vancleave	Mississippi	SCI, Inc.	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
On June 8, 2017, an employee was holding one side of a manhole cover while a coworker lifted the manhole cover with a crowbar on the opposite side. The manhole cover slipped off of the crowbar hook and fell onto the employee's hand, pinching off the finger pads of his right middle and ring fingers between the manhole lid and lip. His ring fingertip had to be surgically amputated.
2017-05-19	Ithaca	New York	THE PIKE COMPANY	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was moving a manhole cover when it slipped and crushed his right middle finger. His fingertip had to be surgically amputated.
2017-05-12	Youngstown	Ohio	ROTH BROTHERS INC.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was cutting a piece of duct work to size using a grinder with a cut-off wheel. The pipe was staged on the back of a truck parked approximately 5 feet from two manhole covers. As the employee was cutting, vapors from an underground tank beneath the manhole covers ignited, causing first degree flash burns to the employee's torso, chest, hands, arms, head, face, neck, and back and second degree burns to the chest and hands.
2017-05-06	Saint Simons Island	Georgia	Bio-Nomic Services, Inc.	Hand(s), except finger(s)	Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning
An employee was setting up hoses and chains for a grout packer that was inserted into piping and a sewer manhole. While he was working in the manhole, the grout packer became stuck. As he reached down to release it, the packer took off down the line and lacerated the web area of his right hand between his index finger and thumb.
2017-04-20	Clarksville	Arkansas	Johnson Industrial Coatings, LLC.	Arm(s)	Struck by object or equipment
An employee was cleaning a sewer drain with a high-pressure hose. The hose had to make a 90 degree turn at the bottom of the manhole. Instead of making that turn, the hose circled back around and came out of the manhole, striking the employee on the left arm and causing three lacerations.
2017-04-20	Mayville	North Dakota	HA Thompson and Sons	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by other person
An employee was lifting a manhole cover when it slipped and amputated the right middle finger of another employee.
2017-03-28	Paris	Texas	Oscar Renda	Nonclassifiable	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway
An employee was struck by a vehicle while grouting a manhole, suffering multiple fractures and lacerations to the face and left knee.
2017-02-10	Plantation	Florida	BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC.	Toes(s), toenail(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
An employee was lifting a manhole cover and dropped it on his foot. He suffered a left toe injury that required surgery.
2017-01-13	Denton	Texas	RKM Utilitiy Services, Inc.	Lower leg(s)	Fall, slip, trip
An employee was cleaning up the area and drove over a manhole. The lid fell into the manhole and the employee went into the manhole to retrieve it. The employee slipped and fell resulting in a broken right tibia.
2016-09-22	Stanton	Delaware	Diamond Materials, LLC	Abdomen, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Vehicle struck object or animal in roadway
An employee was operating a backhoe, shoveling milling material off the road, when the shovel became caught on a manhole road protrusion. This contact jarred the backhoe and the employee with great force, causing a liver injury where the seat belt connection contacted the employee near the right abdominal area.
2016-09-07	Oberlin	Ohio	OBERLIN COLLEGE	Fingertip(s)	Struck by object or equipment dropped by injured worker
On September 7, 2016, at approximately 12:05 p.m., an employee was lifting a manhole lid when it slipped and pinched his finger between the cover and manhole opening, amputating his right middle fingertip.
2016-08-12	Millvale	Pennsylvania	Gulisek Construction, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway
An employee was cleaning the top of a manhole with a brush when a truck drove over him. He suffered broken bones and was hospitalized.
2016-08-04	Delphos	Kansas	Norwood Company Inc.	Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders	Fall on same level due to tripping
An employee tripped and stepped into an open manhole. He fell across the manhole, fracturing two ribs and puncturing a lung.
2016-07-05	Craig	Colorado	Anson Excavating	Multiple body parts	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was attempting to lower a concrete piece of manhole onto another section when it fell and landed on the employee. He suffered a broken left clavicle, broken left ribs, and a broken hip.
2016-06-03	Onalaska	Wisconsin	McHugh Excavating and Plumbing, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee and a coworker were lifting up a manhole to see the direction of a pipe. The lid was lifted and held vertically. Some dirt started to fall into the manhole, and the employee used his hand to brush it away so it did not fall into the manhole. The lid slipped off the tool and smashed the employee's left thumb between it and the casting, amputating the end of his left thumb.
2016-04-12	San Antonio	Texas	B. Robinson, Inc.	BODY SYSTEMS	Bodily conditions, n.e.c.
An employee opened a manhole for fiber optic installation and immediately began hyperventilating.
2015-12-28	Terminal Island	California	EAGLE MARINE SERVICES LTD	Nonclassifiable	Fall through surface or existing opening
An employee was standing on the Tier 2 catwalk on the port/in shore side and slipped and fell through an open manhole.
2015-11-10	Little Elm	Texas	CDM Constructors, Inc.	Wrist(s) and arm(s)	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee entered a sewer/manhole during low flow to install a 36" pillow plug and block flow. During installation, the plug failed and ruptured. The employee was knocked down, fracturing his right arm and wrist. He required surgery.
2015-11-09	New York	New York	Welsbach Electric	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was lifting a manhole cover using a handheld hook. The cover slipped off the hook. The employee tried to catch it and amputated his left middle finger.
2015-11-02	Chicago	Illinois	Com Ed	Nonclassifiable	Direct exposure to electricity
An employee was burned while working in a manhole on de-energized cables when a live cable that was not being worked on randomly failed and caused an arc blast.
2015-10-15	Urania	Louisiana	Elektro Fischer USA, LLP	Foot (feet)	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
An employee was covering a manhole with a manhole cover. The manhole cover flipped up on top of the employee's right foot, breaking four bones.
2015-10-02	Medley	Florida	UNITED STATES FOUNDRY & MANUFACTURING CORPORATION	Ankle(s)	Fall on same level, n.e.c.
An employee was using a load device to move a metal ring for a manhole cover when he turned and fell backwards. The metal ring fell onto his ankle, fracturing it and requiring hospitalization.
2015-09-23	Cross Plains	Wisconsin	James Peterson Sons, Inc.	Multiple upper extremities locations	Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts
An employee was holding onto a braided chocker line (wire) that was wrapped around pipes being installed in a manhole by a backhoe. The backhoe came in contact with a live electrical line, and the employee received burns to his right hand and shoulder.
2015-07-15	Georgetown	Texas	Cornerstone Site Service	Ankle(s)	Fall through surface or existing opening
Employees were removing the flat plate assembly equipment in preparation for vacuum testing in manholes. During the removal process, one of the employees rolled his ankle and fell into the manhole breaking his ankle.
2015-07-03	Bonita Springs	Florida	MITCHELL & STARK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee was inside a manhole when a 2x4 fell into the hole and hit the top of his finger that was grasping the ladder amputating it.
2015-06-04	Devils Tower	Wyoming	Devils Tower National Monument	Fingertip(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee sustained a fingertip amputation when a manhole caught his finger between the lid and ground.
2015-05-28	Newton	Massachusett	Eversource Energy	Ankle(s)	Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet
An employee was inspecting a manhole vault at the intersection of Lyman Street and Centre Street in Newton, Massachusetts. As he transitioned from an extension ladder to the ground level, he fell approximately 11 feet, 7 inches, back into the manhole vault, breaking his right ankle and requiring hospitalization.
2015-05-06	Chicago	Illinois	AT&T	Nonclassifiable	Struck by falling object or equipment
An employee working in a manhole was exposed to a cable falling off a rack.
2015-04-22	Plantation	Florida	ATT Services	BODY SYSTEMS	Bodily conditions, n.e.c.
An employee experienced light headedness, shortness of breath, and tingling in both arms. The employee was transported to the ER by another employee after calling his doctor. The employee was working in a manhole the previous day.
2015-03-09	Franklin	Ohio	Culy Contracting, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet
Employee fell into an 8' manhole.
2015-02-20	Colby	Kansas	Cornerstone Ag LLC	Foot (feet)	Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet
Employee was lifting a five gallon bucket up through a manhole, then stepped back, and tripped backwards off of a 12 inch to 18 inch concrete slab he was standing on. Employee broke his foot and was hospitalized.
2015-02-05	Metairie	Louisiana	Fleming Construction Company, LLC	Nonclassifiable	Other fall to lower level 16 to 20 feet
Employee was attempting to pull a ladder out of a manhole at a sewer lift station. The manhole hatch cover fell on the employee and knocked him down the hole. Employee fell approximately 20 feet to the ground below.
2015-02-03	Newark	New Jersey	PSE&G Metropolitian Division	Head	Struck by dislodged flying object, particle
At approximately 8 PM, 2/3/2015, a worker was struck by a hand-hole cover, sustaining unspecified injuries to the head/face. He was part of an Underground Trouble team assigned to investigate a manhole explosion/no power condition. The initial report is that he was in the process of tapping the cover with a hammer to loosen it when the cover was blown up into his head/face.