Long Island factory worker loses fingers in freak accident with food-dicing machine

A worker at a Long Island food-packaging plant suffered a severe injury Wednesday when three of his fingertips were sliced off in an accident involving an industrial dicer, police said.

According to Suffolk County police, 45-year-old Elmer Rios was operating a food-dicing machine at L&S Packaging Company in East Farmingdale when he reached inside to clean it. The machine’s blades caught his hand, severing the ends of three fingers.

Rios was rushed to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip with serious injuries.

Exterior of L&S Packing Company building with a Paesana sign. — Rios had the ends of his fingers sliced off by the blades, according to Suffolk County police. Google Maps

Detectives are investigating the circumstances of the accident, and police have notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — a routine procedure following major workplace injuries, especially those involving heavy machinery. OSHA is expected to review whether required safety protocols were in place at the time.

Representatives for both the company and OSHA have not yet responded to requests for comment.