Incident date: 2025-01-02
NAICS industry code: 238220

An employee was removing a 6-inch black steel pipe from underground with an excavator holding the pipe up off the ground. The employee was cutting through the pipe using a cutting torch and needed it raised to finish the cut. The employee moved approximately 5 feet away from the pipe. As the excavator was raising the pipe, the pipe broke and swung toward the employee, striking him in the femur. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured femur and required surgery.

Hazard classification:
code_event: title: Struck by other propelled object or substance  n.e.c.
code_source: title: Pipes, tubes  metal
code_nature: title: Fractures
code_body: title: Thigh(s)
severity: moderate