NORTH BERGEN — According to Captain Patrick Irwin, on Dec. 19 at 6:24 p.m., police responded to Eagle Recycling at 4711 Dell Ave. on a report of an injured party. The victim, a 22-year-old Union City man, was working and attempting to pull cardboard from a feeder belt that was clogged when both his hands became stuck inside it. The machine was then shut off but his hands became tangled in the feeder, which led to six of his fingers being severed.
Captain Irwin believes the man lost four fingers on his right hand and two on his left.
West New York EMS along with North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue responded to free him from the machine. The man was transferred to Jersey City Medical Center.
According to Irwin, OSHA was notified and responded. OSHA investigates industrial accidents and will be looking into any violations/safety issues that were not addressed at the time. Police have still not received a response from OSHA.
Eagle Recycling representatives were unavailable for comment prior to this breaking news.