Amputations

Two employees were installing the port rudder into a 58-foot marine vessel. The vessel was suspended in the hoist straps of a marine travel lift. The employees were supporting the rudder vertically under the vessel when the lift dropped the stern of the vessel approximately 12 inches. The rudder became tightly wedged between the bottom of the vessel and the gravel ground. One of the employees had their fingers crushed between the rudder and the ground. The injured employee's left index finger was amputated and the left middle finger was severely injured, but remained attached.