Crushing injury avoided with Rig Lizard® 2021X | Rail yard

Container terminals are full of obstacles and dangerous hazards, especially when working near heavy containers weighing several tons. From crush injuries to improper material handling, working in a rail yard comes with inherent risks.

At one East Coast rail yard, it was up to the workers to choose what PPE they wanted to wear. One longshoreman made the personal decision to wear a high-performing HexArmor® glove featuring ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 level 2 impact protection. That decision may have saved his hand—and his employer thousands of dollars in potential costs. Read on to learn more about this close call.

A life-changing situation

While assisting with the stacking of containers in the rail yard, one longshoreman faced a near-catastrophic incident. The longshoreman had been guiding shipping containers, roughly weighing about eight tons each, to ensure they stacked evenly when his hand became trapped.

Unaware of the situation, the crane operator placed the top container fully down, leaving the longshoreman's hand crushed between the two eight-ton loads. Upon realizing the issue, the crane operator quickly lifted the container off, and the longshoreman was rushed to the emergency room. Injuries from such incidents are often life-altering, frequently resulting in amputations or long-term disabilities.

Thanks to the impact protection provided by the Rig Lizard® 2021X gloves, the longshoreman's hand was saved. Remarkably, the longshoreman reported that he could move all his fingers and had complete feeling in his hand following the incident.

Port safety officials noted that this could have been a devastating injury, potentially requiring amputation, had the longshoreman not been wearing the Rig Lizard® 2021X gloves. The estimated cost of an amputation—including medical expenses, lost time, and reduced productivity—would have exceeded $100,000. Most importantly, the personal and professional impact on the longshoreman's life would have been incalculable.

The choice that made the difference

In this part of the terminal, the use of PPE, like the Rig Lizard® 2021X gloves, was not mandatory. However, the longshoreman chose to wear them, citing their comfort and reliable performance as reasons. That choice made all the difference—not just for the longshoreman's safety, but also for the financial and operational well-being of the company.