Worker seriously injured after clothing caught in sawmill conveyor

A 21-year-old worker was seriously injured in a workplace accident at a sawmill in Thalheim in the Murtal district on Wednesday evening, ORF reported. His clothing became caught in the conveyor system.

The accident happened shortly before 10 p.m. as two workers, including the 21-year-old from the Murtal district, were carrying out a test run on a wood sawing installation. A wooden slat became jammed in the conveyor area.

The worker tried to place the slats back on the conveyor when his clothing caught in a rotating gear, trapping him. A colleague heard his screams, immediately switched off the machine and called emergency services.

After receiving first aid, the injured man was taken to the LKH Judenburg hospital.

The Leoben labour inspectorate was also involved in investigating the exact cause of the accident. It found that the worker had apparently bypassed the machine’s safety precautions.