Severe Workplace Injuries in Holcomb, Kansas

Sep 4, 2025 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Hospitalized

An employee was working in the rendering department, being trained to clean-in-place (CIP) on equipment. A back-pressure valve was being removed to be replaced. When the employee removed a clamp holding the piping, hot water spilled onto the employee, who suffered second-degree burns to the back of the left hand, the right arm, and the abdominal area.

Contact with hot objects or substances · Trunk and other upper extremities · Manufacturing

Oct 3, 2024 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc./ Tyson Hides and Tannery Hospitalized

An employee was using a hock vacuum on the harvest floor to clean and sanitize beef when the vacuum suctioned to the employee's abdomen, causing burns to 4% of their abdomen. The employee was hospitalized.

Contact with hot objects or substances · Abdomen · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1781525

Aug 24, 2023 · Sunflower Electric Power Corporation Amputation

An employee was drilling a 15-16-inch hole in a flat steel bracket. The bracket was in a vise, but was not clamped on the table when it started to spin while the employee's hand was resting on it. The employee's finger was caught between the base and bracket, resulting in a partial amputation of the left ring finger at the first knuckle.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Finger(s), fingernail(s) (other) · Utilities

May 3, 2023 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was stepping down from a pay loader when he fell and struck his head on the floor/ground. The employee was hospitalized for a concussion.

Other fall to lower level · Brain · Manufacturing

Sep 6, 2022 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was walking to the break room when they tripped on the edge of a pallet and fell to the floor, fracturing their right femur.

Fall on same level due to tripping over an object · Thigh(s) · Manufacturing

Aug 19, 2021 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Amputation

An employee was performing maintenance on a conveyor belt roller when their right thumb was pinched and amputated by the roller. The machine was not locked out/tagged out at the time.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Finger(s), fingernail(s) (other) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1549304

Jul 28, 2021 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Amputation

An employee was conducting maintenance on a stacker machine. When the employee adjusted a chain on the machine's conveyor belt, the chain pinched the employee's right index finger and amputated the fingertip.

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects · Fingertip(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1544902

Jun 21, 2021 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was euthanizing a cow with a pneumatic knocking tool when the cow swung its head and pushed the tool toward the employee. The tool triggered and its pin struck the employee in the left elbow, resulting in a broken humerus bone.

Injured by slipping or swinging object held by injured worker · Upper arm(s) · Manufacturing

May 30, 2021 · Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. Amputation

An employee was maneuvering a product cart with his hands on the sides of the cart. As he was doing so, the employee's left pinky finger got caught between the cart and the edge of a metal guard on a conveyor belt resulting in a fingertip amputation.

Struck by rolling object or equipment being pushed by injured worker · Fingertip(s) · Manufacturing

Feb 14, 2021 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc./ Tyson Hides and Tannery Hospitalized

An employee was segregating sides of beef into beef rails. A side of beef fell; bones in it lacerated the employee's left shin, damaging the muscle. The employee was hospitalized.

Struck by falling object or equipment (other) · Lower leg(s) · Manufacturing

Jan 19, 2021 · A1 Pump and Jet Hospitalized

An employee was climbing up onto a trailer. The employee slipped on a step and fell to the ground, suffering broken ribs and an injured back.

Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet · Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders · Construction · OSHA inspection 1511220

Aug 25, 2020 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was servicing a material handling kicker plate when it activated. The cylinder retracted and crushed his right thumb between the kicker framework and a conveyor belt. He suffered an open fracture to the thumb tip.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Fingertip(s) · Manufacturing

Aug 14, 2020 · Tyson Fresh Meats Amputation

An employee was carrying an electric motor that weighed 35lbs. and had to use four sets of stairs to reach the area where the motor was to be installed. After coming down the third set of steps, he was on a flat surface when he tripped over an air wand hose that was on the ground. The motor he was carrying came down on his right ring finger, causing an amputation of the soft tissue of the right ring fingertip.

Fall on same level due to tripping over an object · Fingertip(s) · Manufacturing

Feb 21, 2020 · Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. Hospitalized

An employee was working as a trim inspector while standing on a bulk scale when a powered industrial truck operator struck her. She was hospitalized with fractures to both ankles.

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area · Ankle(s) · Manufacturing

Aug 4, 2019 · Marel Inc. Amputation

An employee was doing maintenance on a skinner machine. His finger was caught in a belt and amputated above the first knuckle.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Finger(s), fingernail(s) (other) · Wholesale trade

Mar 20, 2019 · Tyson Fresh Meats LLC Hospitalized

An employee was setting up and trying to adjust a barrel fan when it tilted and caught the employee's right hand, causing a middle finger fracture that required surgery and an index finger laceration.

Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment · Finger(s), fingernail(s) · Manufacturing

Oct 11, 2018 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was washing his hands when he reached up to grab a piece of ceramic steel. At that time, he bumped a knife pouch, resulting in the knife coming out and poking/lacerating him on the right hand above the wrist.

Struck by falling object or equipment (other) · Hand(s), except finger(s) · Manufacturing

Sep 24, 2018 · Sunflower Electric Power Corp. Hospitalized

An employee was observing work being performed by other employees and was struck by the air horn in use. The employee was hospitalized for a head injury.

Struck by object or equipment · Brain · Utilities · OSHA inspection 1350678

Jul 12, 2018 · Tyson Fresh Meat Amputation

An employee was cleaning out a bone jam from a conveyor with a hook when the hook came loose from the bone and his hand jerked back. His hand hit the conveyor and about 1/4 inch of his right ring finger was amputated.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Finger(s), fingernail(s) (other) · Manufacturing

Mar 5, 2018 · Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. Hospitalized

An employee was pushing meat down a rail system when a beef carcass fell off its hooks and fractured the employee's ankle, requiring hospitalization.

Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle part · Ankle(s) · Manufacturing

Apr 12, 2017 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Amputation

An employee was connecting a chain to a stunned steer and pinched their left index finger resulting in a fingertip amputation.

Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment · Fingertip(s) · Manufacturing

Feb 1, 2017 · TYSON FRESH MEATS, INC. Hospitalized

An employee was operating a strip saw to cut meat and cut their right middle finger. The employee was hospitalized for surgery.

Struck against moving part of machinery or equipment · Finger(s), fingernail(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1209102

Aug 24, 2016 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Amputation

An employee was operating the bagging machine and got the right pinky finger caught when the machine cycled resulting in a partial amputation.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Finger(s), fingernail(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1174285

May 26, 2016 · Tyson Fresh Meats Inc./ Tyson Hides and Tannery Hospitalized

After loading hides onto a pallet, an employee stepped backwards and tripped on a lower guardrail. He fell backwards and struck his head on concrete, suffering a concussion.

Fall on same level due to tripping over an object · Brain · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1152052

Mar 11, 2016 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

On Friday, March 12, 2016, at midnight, an employee slipped and fell on the wet processing floor by the washing area, suffering a fractured hip.

Fall on same level due to slipping · Hip(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1128210

Feb 11, 2016 · Tyson Foods Inc. Hospitalized

An employee was reaching down to pick up a box to clear a jam when his jacket was caught in a roller. As he tried to pull it out, his hand got pulled in as well. His hand and lower arm were crushed. The roller is part of a recirculation belt-driven conveyor.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning · Hand(s) and arm(s) (other) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1128072

Jan 4, 2016 · Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. Hospitalized

An employee was repositioning a saw used for cutting strips when he suffered a flap laceration to his left little finger, requiring hospitalization. The saw was still running at the time.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Finger(s), fingernail(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1115577

Jun 29, 2015 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

On June 29, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., an employee was operating a hoist to lift beef when his finger got bumped between the hook of the hoist and the rail, fracturing his index finger. The injury required surgery.

Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation · Finger(s), fingernail(s) (other) · Manufacturing

Mar 5, 2015 · Tyson Fresh Meats Hospitalized

An employee was being trained to operate a forklift when he lost control, bumped a guardrail, and broke his lower right leg.

Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle (other) · Lower leg(s) · Manufacturing · OSHA inspection 1045670

Jan 27, 2015 · TYSON FRESH MEATS, INC. Hospitalized

The rail that kept beef intact was broken, causing a side of beef to fall on the floor. A worker went to help move the side of beef, which struck his ankle and injured him.

Struck by falling object or equipment · Ankle(s) · Manufacturing