FedEx has an enormous network countrywide in which about 80,000 employees deliver more than 7.6 million packages daily. This leaves the company with a massive responsibility to provide safe workplace environments at all its facilities. Two employees were recently injured in a work accident that involved a conveyor belt at one of the company’s Missouri distribution centers based in Springfield.
Authorities reported that emergency workers were called to an incident in which an employee got trapped in the working parts of a conveyor belt. When they arrived at the scene, they found the man — who officials say is in his 20s — with his arm trapped between the rollers of the conveyor belt. His arm was pulled in up to his shoulder, and his head was stuck between one of the machine’s braces and a roller.
It was reported that a second worker tripped and fell when he ran to stop the operation of the conveyor belt. He suffered shoulder injuries. After spending about 30 minutes to extricate the trapped worker, he was airlifted to a hospital. Reportedly, the man was conscious and talking throughout the rescue operation. The other worker was taken to a medical facility by ambulance.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating the incident, and a spokesperson said in most cases such accidents are preventable by providing proper safety training to all employees. Both employees who suffered injuries in this work accident will be entitled to pursue financial assistance to cover medical expenses and lost income. Benefits claims can be filed through the Missouri workers’ compensation program.
Source: news-leader.com, “OSHA investigating FedEx in Springfield after employee gets caught in conveyor belt“, Alissa Zhu, Oct. 18, 2016