Factory Machine Injury: First Aid Before You Reach the Hospital

After a machine injury, the first five minutes matter most. Switch off the machine, call for help, press firmly on any bleeding, keep any cut-off part in a clean bag resting on ice (never buried in it), and get the worker to an emergency room. Do not pull out anything stuck in the wound.

What to do in the first 5 minutes

1. Make it safe. Switch off the machine at the mains and lock it out before anyone touches the worker. Never reach into a machine that could restart.
2. Call early. Dial 108 or 112 for an ambulance, and call us on +91 9767 247 247 so the Emergency Room is ready before you arrive.
3. Stop the bleeding. Press firmly with a clean cloth. If it soaks through, add more cloth on top without lifting the first. For a deep wound, pack it with clean cloth, then keep pressing.
4. Use a tourniquet only if you must. If an arm or leg bleeds heavily or spurts and pressure is not working, tie a tourniquet 2 to 3 inches above the wound, never over a joint. Tighten until the bleeding stops, note the time, and leave it on. Only doctors should remove it.
5. Save any cut-off part. Wrap it in clean, dry cloth, seal it in a plastic bag, and rest that bag on ice in a second bag or box. Send it with the patient. Ask a colleague to find it while you care for the worker.
6. Leave stuck objects alone. If a hand is trapped or a metal piece is embedded, do not pull. Press around the object and support the limb.
7. Keep the worker calm and still. Lay them down, keep them warm, and give nothing to eat or drink, because surgery may be needed.

What not to do

• Do not apply powder, oil, ointment or home remedies to a deep wound. They hide the injury and raise infection risk.
• Do not use a loose cloth as a tourniquet. A band that is not tight enough can increase bleeding.
• Do not bandage a serious injury and send the worker back to the line or home. Fractures and swelling can show up hours later.
• Do not wait for paperwork, approvals or insurance forms. Move first.

Which injuries need the emergency room immediately?

Go straight to the Emergency Room for any amputation or crush injury, bleeding that will not stop, visible bone or a bent limb, a numb, cold or pale hand or foot, machine burns, and any eye or head injury. A crushed hand can look intact at first yet carry fractures and swelling underneath.

Call 24x7 Emergency: +91 9767 247 247

What happens when you reach Reliable Hospital

Our Emergency Room runs 24x7, minutes from the MIDC zones. The duty doctor and trauma nurse check vital signs, give pain relief and stabilise the worker. 

Digital X-ray and blood tests happen on site, then our orthopedic and trauma team decides on treatment. 

Fractures, open fractures and crush injuries are managed in laminar-airflow operation theatres with ICU backup, and cashless treatment is available through insurance partners and TPAs. Tell us at once if a body part has been cut off, and bring it with you.

For supervisors and HR: prepare before it happens

• Keep a stocked first-aid box, clean plastic bags and an ice source near high-risk machines. India’s OSH Code, 2020, which replaced the Factories Act in November 2025, continues to require first-aid facilities at workplaces.
• Train at least two people per shift in bleeding control.
• Put the emergency number and this checklist on the wall beside the machine.

Frequently asked questions

1. How long can a severed finger be saved?

There is no safe waiting time to rely on. A part kept clean, dry and cooled the right way gives the best chance, so move without delay. Reattachment depends on the injury and needs a surgeon’s assessment.

2. Should I remove a tourniquet once the bleeding stops?

No. Leave it in place and tell the emergency team what time it was applied.

3. What should I do first if a worker’s hand is caught in a machine?

Switch the machine off at the mains and lock it out before anyone touches the worker. Never reach into a machine that could restart. Call 108 or 112 for an ambulance, and call Reliable Hospital on +91 9767 247 247 so the ER is ready. Press on any bleeding, and do not force a trapped hand free.

4. How do I keep a severed finger in the best condition?

Wrap it in clean, dry cloth and seal it in a plastic bag. Rest that bag on ice inside a second bag or box. Never put the part directly on ice, and never bury it in ice. Send it with the patient, and tell the ER team about it as soon as you arrive.

5. The bleeding has stopped and the injury looks small. Can the worker go back to work?

No, not until a doctor has checked the injury. Machine injuries can hide fractures, and a crushed hand can look fine at first. Swelling and pain may show up hours later. A quick check and an X-ray are far safer than guessing.

6. Is Reliable Hospital open at night, and can the treatment be cashless? 

Yes, our emergency department runs 24x7 on Satpur-Ambad Link Road. Digital X-ray and blood tests are done on site, and our orthopedic and trauma team treats fractures and crush injuries in operation theatres with ICU backup. Cashless treatment is available through insurance partners and TPAs.

Call us now

Machine injuries do not wait for office hours, and neither do we. Call +91 9767 247 247 or come to Satpur-Ambad Link Road, Opp. Bajrang Nagar, Nashik. See our 24x7 emergency and trauma care and industrial healthcare services.