We’re all human – well, most of us anyway – and thus none are immune to making mistakes. Some errors have more dramatic consequences, such as a recently discussed nailer accident, but most result in small nicks, cuts, or bruises that have little long-term implications.
But sometimes a little mistake can have huge consequences – severed fingers, cracked bones, a lost eye, or worse.
When working with power tools and even hand tools, it does not take a lot to suffer a life-changing accident. A small rush here, skipped safety precaution there, experience-borne complacency with certain tools – you get the picture.
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With some of the incidents sensationalized and spread by the mass media, we all shake our heads and say that guy did something wrong. I’m much more careful and so that’ll never happen to me. Some accidents are just too outlandish to relate to. Who can really anticipate shooting themselves in the brain with a nailer?
But, as with driving a car, one small movement or one tiny moment of neglect can lead to disaster. The potential for harm is definitely real, and we must always be mindful of this. As mentioned, no one is immune to life-changing mistakes. Even the most experienced users might lower their guard at times.
So… here are a couple of real Everyday Joe injury stories – with photos – that woodworkers sent in to the Wood Whisperer.
Woodworking Injuries via Wood Whisperer
No, you shouldn’t be afraid of tools, but it’s okay to have a respect for what they can do to you. Reminders like this one may be redundant, but hopefully you’ll appreciate why it’s necessary.
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Mrs. ToolGuyd
Ack, why did I look at those pictures?!
Dan Richards
I was in PT for a hand injury in 2005 with a guy who cut his left hand in half with his tablesaw. Twice. He’d cut the digits a number of years before and was back for a more time consuming palm and thumb reconstruction and PT. His wife was really, really mad, all the time.
pete
in retrospect of the nailgun article, ill just share here my personal experience with clearing jams.
at my work among my other duties is repairing tools, and clearing the occasional sever jam. one time i went to work on a medium crown stapler, i disconnected the air, gave the trigger a couple pulls & tried contacting the safety, nothing…so i was assuming it was safe.
NOPE. somehow, the way it jammed, with the piston mostly up, there was a pocket of air trapped between stages, once i started to loosen the front cover, it immediately fired the chunk of staple out at pretty high speed!!
Luckily i’ve always been taught to point things like these away from myself. Since then i wear safety glasses even on disconnected equipment.
pete
severe*
(not sever lol)
pete
Sorry to double post, but i forgot another quick mention of a tool injury i learned about during an OSHA 10 hr class.
The teacher presented us with an X-ray of someone’s skull, with half a 10″ tablesaw blade entirely lodged through. Least it need to be said, the person died. This occurred when they used an older (not extremely old) blade with no markings as to its maximum speed, on a newer saw which spins faster. The blade couldn’t handle the speed and shattered roughly in half.
I don’t know any more of the details of that accident. That it was in an osha class, i’m assuming it happened on a job site. Who supplied the blade? the victim may not even have known an unsafe blade was installed, or just trusted that all blades are manufactured the same.