A worker suffered severe blood loss after both of his hands were crushed in an industrial press on South Newman Street in Hackensack on Thursday, prompting a rapid response from site employees, police and firefighters who worked together to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived.
Hackensack firefighters were called to the scene for a “man in machine” emergency around 12:30 p.m., according to DailyVoice.com. Crews arrived in less than four minutes, the outlet reported, but by the time they got there, the injured man had already managed to free himself from the machine. He was experiencing a large amount of blood loss from both hands.
Employees at the site had already started initial medical treatment before first responders showed up, per the same account. That quick action bought critical time as the situation unfolded. Once police and fire crews were on scene, they worked fast to control the bleeding, applying two tourniquets — one by Hackensack police and another by firefighters.
Rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center
The worker was transported by Hackensack University Medical Center BLS and ALS crews for further treatment, the report said. No information on his condition or outcome after arriving at the hospital has been made public.
The incident unfolded while Hackensack firefighters happened to be investigating a possible appliance fire on First Street, according to the report. They were diverted to South Newman Street once the machine emergency was called in, underscoring how quickly the day shifted from a routine check to a potentially life-threatening rescue.
OSHA Notified for Follow-Up
After the injured worker was stabilized and removed from the scene, the industrial press was secured and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified for follow-up, per the same account. No details on what caused the machine to crush the worker's hands, or whether any safety violation occurred, have been released.
Federal workplace safety rules lay out specific obligations for machines like the one involved in Thursday's incident. Under OSHA's mechanical power press standard, employers are required to verify, after installing point-of-operation guards and before releasing a job for operation, that those guards will actually prevent an operator's hands from reaching the danger zone. Separately, OSHA's mechanical power press injury form notes that under 29 CFR 1910.217(g), employers must report all point-of-operation injuries to operators or other employees within 30 days.
Industrial press accidents have proven fatal elsewhere. In 2011, a worker was killed after being crushed in an industrial press at a Milwaukee door manufacturer, according to a report from Twin Cities at the time. No such outcome has been reported in the Hackensack case, and the worker's name, employer and exact condition remain undisclosed as the investigation continues.
