The accident happened on last Thursday at a meat processing plant in San Luis Obispo.
The machine's blades "came around and broke his arm and came around again and broke his arm a little further up the next turnaround," San Luis Obispo Fire Battalion Chief Neal Berryman said.
Berryman said the man's head or neck would have been hit next.
The man's screaming alerted his co-worker, who saw the victim's legs protruding from the machine and switched it off in the nick of time.
A picture taken by a firefighter shows the man entangled in the machine up to his waist -- his legs pointed upward, with rescuers on all sides.
Hydraulic tools had to be used to pull the blades apart and free the man, KEYT, a CNN affiliate quoted fire officials as saying.
The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for a broken arm.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app