A male employee of Custom Polymers on Lucas Ferry Road suffered severe lacerations to his left arm when he became entangled in an auger on a machine at about 3 p.m. Monday.

Athens Fire Department Truck 1 and Engine 1 responded. Fire Chief Danny Southard said that by the time he arrived on the scene the unnamed employee was being loaded aboard MedFlight helicopter for transport to Huntsville Hospital.

“By chance, employees were being instructed in basic first aid at the time the accident occurred,” said Southard.

He said the instructor and staff rendered first aid to the injured worker.

MedFlight landed south the water tower on Lucas Ferry.

Custom Polymers buys, processes and sells post-industrial and post-consumer plastics.

At the Athens plant, employees perform washing, grinding and material separation. Once reduced to pellets, the plastic is sold to manufacturers to create more products.