Woman loses hand in Elk Grove Village factory accident

A female employee at an Elk Grove Village clay manufacturing plant lost a portion of her hand this morning after it became stuck in an industrial mixer, authorities said.

Elk Grove Village firefighters responded to the call from Polyform Products, 1901 Estes Ave., about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The company produces artistic and industrial clay.

The injured employee worked in a laboratory environment at the factory making experimental mixtures of the clay product. She accidentally got a portion of her hand stuck in a machine that mixes clay for consistency and color, Elk Grove Village Battalion Chief Mark Sellers said.

“She suffered a partial amputation,” he said.

The victim was conscious and had disentangled from the machine before paramedics arrived, Sellers added.

After being treated at the scene, the woman was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. Her injuries were not life threatening, Sellers said.

Since it was an industrial accident, officials are required to report it to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Sellers said.