Crime & Safety
Man Seriously Injures Arm in Workplace Accident Tuesday
His arm was almost severed at the elbow after it was caught in a belt of a topsoil screener, according to police
A 20-year-old man was seriously injured Tuesday when his arm was caught in the belt of a topsoil screener at a State Street business, according to police.
At about 11:15 a.m., police got a report of a worker with an amputated arm at Modern Materials at 2891 State St., Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said.
When officers got there, they found the man's arm was "nearly severed above the elbow," Smith said. Hamden Fire Department personnel treated him before he was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, Smith said.
"A preliminary investigation revealed that the employee was working in the area of a top soil screening plant when his arm was caught in a conveyor belt," Smith said. "A co-worker rushed to turn off the machine while another employee freed the 20 year-old by cutting the belt."
Hamden Police notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Smith said, and an OSHA representative arrived a short time later. Hamden detectives and members of OSHA are investigating.
The employee’s name has not yet been released, Smith said.
It's the second serious accident in a month at a Hamden business. Last month an employee at Orchard Glass at 30 Edmund St. died after 10 to 12 panes of glass fell on him, according to police.
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