Machine Injury & Accidents

Date	City	State	Employer	Body Part	Event
2021-10-26	Northbrook	Il	Argo Roofing Company	Head and neck	Fall through surface or existing opening 16 to 20 feet
On October 26, 2021, at approximately 10:25 a.m. an employee was performing roofing work on a commercial building and was walking backward moving a propane tank with a handcart. While moving the propane tank, the employee tripped over the raised lip of an unprotected skylight and fell through it to the concrete floor 20 feet below. The employee sustained a fractured cervical vertebra and multiple skull fractures.
2021-03-11	Brookhaven	Ms	Relogistics Services L.L.C.	Hand(s)	Contact with cold objects or substances
An employee had just exchanged the propane tank on his forklift. After he began driving the forklift, he noticed a propane fuel smell. He stopped the forklift, stepped off, and proceeded to tighten the coupler with his hands, resulting in second degree burns that required hospitalization.
2021-03-08	Bay Shore	Ny	Paraco Gas Corp.	Nonclassifiable	Fire
Two employees were unloading and loading propane cylinders. A leaking propane tank was placed in front of a makeshift structure. Propane gas accumulated within the structure and an explosion occurred. Both employees suffered second and third degree burns that required hospitalization.
2021-02-15	Northlake	Il	Norkol Converting Corporation	Fingertip(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was changing the propane tank on the forklift. After changing the tank, his right pinky finger was pinched between the propane tank cradle and the propane tank, resulting in fingertip amputation.
2020-09-28	Pasadena	Tx	Palmer Distribution Services	Hand(s)	Part of occupant’s body caught between vehicle and other object in nonroadway transport incident
An employee was driving a forklift up a ramp. His right hand hit the ramp wall. The first four of his fingers were crushed, and the cutouts on a propane tank he was holding lacerated his hand. He was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
2020-09-01	Kansas City	Mo	YRC FREIGHT	Upper and lower limb(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
The injured employee was helping another employee change the propane tank on the dock sweeper. The tank was leaking and when the injured employee tried to start the sweeper, a large flame burned both of his arms and legs.
2020-06-10	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	Rouses Enterprises, LLC	Toes(s), toenail(s)	Struck by falling object or equipment, n.e.c.
A service clerk was helping a customer in the propane tank area. As he was exchanging a propane tank, a propane tank that was on a shelf fell and fractured the second toe on his right foot. He was hospitalized and had surgery on his right foot.
2020-02-12	Houston	Texas	Crane Worldwide Logistics	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee was replacing a new liquid propane tank for a forklift. The propane leaked through a valve from the tank and onto the employee's right index and middle fingers, burning them.
2019-08-30	Victorville	California	U.S. Department of Justice	Lower leg(s)	Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle
An employee was changing out a forklift's propane tank. The forklift moved and struck the employee, breaking the employee's fibula.
2019-08-19	Seguin	Texas	Loves Travel Stops	BODY SYSTEMS	Inhalation of harmful substance-single episode
An employee was helping a customer with a propane tank when he inhaled propane, suffering respiratory irritation.
2019-05-17	Chicago	Illinois	DAKKOTA INTEGRATED SYSTEMS, L.L.C.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with cold objects or substances
An employee was changing out a propane tank. As the employee tightened a fitting on the tank, propane leaked out and contacted the employee's right hand resulting in cold burns to three fingers.
2019-04-11	Valdosta	Georgia	Lowe's Home Centers, LLC	Hand(s)	Contact with cold objects or substances
An employee was connecting a propane tank to a sweeper/scrubber machine. The tank began to leak and the employee's right hand was frostbitten by the gas. The employee was hospitalized.
2019-03-12	Martinsburg	Missouri	FENNEWALD CUSTOM WELDING, INC	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
Four employees were working inside the shop on a propane tank. They were removing a valve from the propane tank when the gas filled the workspace and ignited. One employee was burned and required hospitalization.
2019-03-05	Midland	Texas	Endeavor Energy Resources, L.P.	Multiple body parts	Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids
Two employees were in a trailer. A lit cigarette ignited gas that had leaked from a propane tank in the trailer, causing an explosion. Both employees suffered second-and third- degree burns to the hands, arms, and face.
2019-03-02	Snyder	Texas	United Supermarkets LLC	Fingertip(s)	Struck by or caught in swinging door or gate
While opening a cage containing propane tanks, an employee caught her index finger in the hinge. The finger was crushed, and the tip was medically amputated.
2019-02-25	Columbus	Ohio	USF Holland	Thigh(s)	Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area
While changing a propane tank, an employee was struck by a forklift. The employee suffered significant swelling on the right leg from the hip to the knee and was hospitalized.
2018-08-21	Tampa	Florida	Ewing Waterproofing Systems, Inc.	Arm(s)	Contact with hot objects or substances
An employee was walking and carrying a bucket of hot rubberized material when he tripped and fell over a propane tank line. The bucket hit the ground, causing hot tar to splash onto his arms and burn his skin.
2018-07-04	Kingston	Massachusett	W.E. AUBUCHON CO., INC.	Leg(s)	Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicle
An employee was driving his motorcycle to lock up the propane tank area after clocking out for the day. He had an accident with the bike and suffered an severe laceration on the right leg.
2018-05-12	Chicago	Illinois	White Castle System, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Fire
An employee was preparing hamburgers on a portable grill when a fire broke out, causing propane tanks to explode. He received first degree burns to his hands, a head injury, and possible smoke inhalation.
2018-05-10	Pipersville	Pennsylvania	Omnilift, Inc	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was working on a forklift propane tank leak when the fuel ignited. The employee received burns to the arms, torso and face, requiring hospitalization.
2018-03-02	Colmesneil	Texas	Suburban Propane, LP	BODY SYSTEMS	Stings and venomous bites
An employee was servicing a customer's propane tank at the customer's residence. The employee reached down to pick up a tool and was bitten by a copperhead snake. The employee received anti-venom and had an adverse reaction to the anti-venom, requiring hospitalization.
2018-02-08	Jamaica	New York	WORLDWIDE FLIGHT SERVICES	Hand(s)	Contact with cold objects or substances
An employee was changing a propane tank on a forklift. As he was connecting the hose, some fuel leaked onto his right hand (which was gloved), causing cold burns.
2017-06-13	Lima	Ohio	Kellermeyer Bergensons Services LLC	Multiple trunk locations	Fall on same level
An employee was replacing an empty propane tank on a propane floor buffer. While placing the empty tank in the propane cage, the employee fell to the concrete working surface, injuring the left side of his body and requiring hospitalization.
2017-04-28	Miami	Florida	Miami Propane Gas Corp	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
On April 28, 2017, an employee was filling a propane tank at a customer's house when the propane ignited and he received minor burns on his arm and face.
2017-03-09	Sebring	Florida	Sebring Precast Products, Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
The employee was heating the core of the precast tank using a propane tank. The flame went out. The gas built up so when she relit it there was a flash fire causing second and third degree burns.
2017-02-16	Miami	Florida	SUBURBAN PROPANE & GAS CO., INC.	Ankle(s)	Other fall to lower level
An employee was unloading propane tanks from a truck using a hand cart when he lost his balance and fell backwards to the ground. The tank then fell on and injured his left ankle.
2016-09-22	Lake Wales	Florida	Trans Tech Energy, Inc.	Multiple body parts	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was performing a vacuum procedure on a bulk 30,000-gallon propane tank. He was using an air compressor to blow air into the base of the container to create a tornado effect that subsequently vacuums the propane from the tank. A tool ignition source ignited the flammable gas, burning legs and face of the employee, who was 18 to 36 feet away from the opening.
2016-09-08	Wilmot	South Dakota	CHS	Hand(s)	Contact with cold objects or substances
An employee was filling up a propane tank when a splitter valve became unscrewed and liquid propane leaked out, burning the employee's right hand.
2016-05-18	Yellowstone National Park	Wyoming	Garden City Plumbing	Nonclassifiable	Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue
An employee was preparing to change piping on a propane tank when liquid propane leaked out and burned the employee, requiring hospitalization.
2016-05-11	Akron	New York	NOCO Energy Corp.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Contact with objects and equipment, n.e.c.
An employee was unloading propane tanks from a delivery truck. As the employee dismounted the truck's lift gate, his ring finger was caught and de-gloved in the channel of the lift gate.
2015-12-02	Kansas City	Missouri	CEVA Logistics, Inc.	Pelvis	Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area
On December 2, 2015, at approximately 8:45 AM, an employee was changing out propane tanks on a forklift when another forklift operator backed into him, pinning him between the two lifts and fracturing his pelvis.
2015-11-08	Houston	Texas	O'neal Manufactuirng Services	Hand(s) and arm(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee had changed a propane tank on a forklift. After several attempts to start the forklift, a fire was sparked, causing second degree burns to the employee's arms and hands.
2015-09-30	Hatfield	Pennsylvania	R L Carriers Shared Services, LLC.	Hand(s)	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
On 9/30/15, at 9:19 PM, an employee was changing a propane tank when the tank ignited, burning his hands. Safety gloves were not worn at the time of the incident.
2015-08-22	Rhinebeck	New York	Williams Lumber & Home Centers, Inc.	Hand(s) and arm(s)	Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue
An employee was dispensing propane from a main propane tank into a smaller tank. As he unscrewed the nozzle from the smaller tank, a burst of propane came out from the main tank and burned his hands and forearms.
2015-07-29	Lindale	Texas	AUTOMATIC PROPANE GAS AND SUPPLY, LLC	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
An employee was holding a ladder for another employee to access the top of a bulk propane tank. When the employee was in motion to step off of the ladder and onto the tank, the ladder slipped and amputated the employee's right hand thumb.
2015-07-21	Kindred	North Dakota	CHS, Inc.	Finger(s), fingernail(s)	Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment
While loading a 1,000-pound propane tank onto a trailer, the load shifted and crushed an employee's finger. His injury later required amputation.
2015-07-01	West Point	Nebraska	Sapp Bros. Inc.	Nonclassifiable	Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire
A leaking propane tank exploded within the shop injuring two workers.
2015-06-18	Water Mill	New York	Paraco Gas Corporation	Nonclassifiable	Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids
An employee was repairing an underground propane tank gauge when the propane ignited a fire. The employee sustained second and third degree burns requiring hospitalization.
2015-05-26	Brockton	Massachusett	ECO RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC.	Multiple trunk locations	Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area
An employee was standing at a forklift removing the propane tank when a front-end loader backed into him. His hip and back were crushed and he was hospitalized.
2015-03-03	Tonawanda	New York	Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America LTD	Lower leg(s)	Fall on same level due to slipping
An employee had just retrieved a full 30 lb. propane tank from storage and was walking and carrying the tank to place it on a forklift truck. The employee slipped on ice and fell breaking his fibula and tibia bones.