An employee was lifting and placing sections of axle pipe (53" round pipe) into a rack. The employee lifted one end of the pipe and stood it up on the floor. The employee then bent over and went to lift the pipe with their fingers, gripping around the inside of the pipe on both ends. As the employee lifted, they lost grip in the right hand at the top of the pipe causing the pipe to drop and crush their left middle finger, resulting in amputation of the finger.