Dedicated Worker Gets Injured at Packing Plant

A 15-year employee of Maplewood Beverage Packers was injured in an afternoon accident when his fingers were pulled into a machine. The employee, who worked at 45 Camptown Road, was not identified, but co-workers said he may have partially severed one of the fingers on his left hand.

The Maplewood Fire Department and emergency workers were called to the packing plant in response to a 911 emergency call. Witnesses said the employee had reached around the rear of a Krone's Topmatic machine to remove several excess labels. According to Plant Manager Nick DiMaria, the machine applies the labels that wrap around the top of Arizona iced tea bottles.

"The plastic sticking out of the machine pulled his fingers into the machine," said Production Manager Jeffrey McMahon. An ambulance took the employee to University Hospital in Newark with a serious finger injury. Company bosses said they hope his injuries don't worsen and that the man left the scene with his hand wrapped in bandages.

"He is a good employee, so we hate to see this kind of thing happen," McMahon added.