On December 11, 2017, a member of local 12943 received multiple injuries to his hand. Preliminary information is that the member’s hand was pinned against the fork truck mast by a paper machine’s stock screen door.

The primary stock screen door weighing approximately 4500 pounds was rigged vertically for transport. The bottom slipped in the chains allowing the door to pin the victim’s hand between the door and the top of the mast of the fork truck. As a result, the member broke his thumb and doctors removed his thumbnail. He was treated at Holston Valley Hospital and released the same day.

This was the first time the crew had done this task. Supervision from maintenance and production were also at the job site prior to and during the time of the incident.

Health, Safety and Environment Staff, Steve Sallman, remotely assisted the local with the investigation.