Incident date: 2023-01-18
NAICS industry code: 211120

Three employees were using an air motor or "rattle" to remove cement and break up a blockage from the inside of a drill pipe joint. As the injured employee was maneuvering the tool in the drill pipe, it struck a pocket of air buildup between the tool and the blockage, causing the tool to be forced out of the drill pipe and strike the employee in the left rib cage. The employee was hospitalized for fractured and bruised ribs.

Hazard classification:
code_event: title: Struck by discharged object or substance
code_source: title: Striking and nailing handtools-powered, n.e.c.
code_nature: title: Soreness, pain, hurt-nonspecified injury
code_body: title: Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders
severity: moderate