Firefighters Free Worker Trapped in Mixing Equipment

A worker at a Hicksville, NY spice production plant was critically injured after his leg and arm became trapped by an auger in a piece of mixing equipment on Tuesday, Newsday and LongIsland.com reported.

Firefighters, police and EMS crews responded to a call at the Spice Specialist plant at about 1:40 p.m., working for an hour to remove the man from the auger, John Fitzwilliam,  a spokesman from the Bethpage Fire Department and local police told Newsday.

According to the Bethpage Fire Department, the incident occurred as the worker poured a bag of ingredients into the mixer while the auger was operational.

“The auger, which spins around, caught the auger, and I guess it caught the worker by surprise,” said the spokesperson in Newsday’s report. “It had such force that it pulled him into the machine.”

The company’s owner offered a version of the story to the news organization, maintaining that the worker put his hand into the operational equipment in disregard of a posted sign warning against such an action.

“He put his hand in the machine when it wasn’t supposed to be in the machine,” said the unidentified owner said. “When it pulled his arm in, he pulled himself up to try to pull his arm out, and it grabbed his leg too.”

Founded in 1989, Spice Specialist produces an array of herbs, spices, seasoning blends and rubs, and specialty items that are primarily sold to restaurants, according to the firm’s website. Its bulk spices are sold under the Spice House USA brand. The Hicksville facility mixes all of the company’s blends.

For more articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones