OOPS! There Went My Hand.

22rifle

Today an acquaintance's employee tested a chop saw on his wrist.

Turns out chops saws work very efficiently at removing hands. Took the hand clean off. Hand was laying on the chop saw. Am told by eye witnesses it was a clean, surgical looking cut.

Found out the boss has no workman's comp. Sounds like the INS might have a strong interest in the incident too.

loneframer

oooffaaa, there seems to be several undesirable issues that need to be addressed here. I live in New Jersey, I'd go without gas and electric before I went without WC. Damn, that guys probably gonna lose sleep over this deal, huh?

curapa

I have heard several stories about fingers but a hand is in a league of its own.

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hughjazz

can't even imagine how that happened

silvertree

Yow, for the guy that did it and Uh Oh for the uninsured GC.

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loneframer

Language barrier, the boss said "take five inches off", and the worker heard "take five fingers off", And thats how the workers lawyer will win the suit and take everything his boss owns. The lawyer will go Pro Bono and keep 75% of the award. The worker will only get the dog.

480sparky

I remember reading a story a few years back where that happened in a factory. Piece of machinery took this poor guys hand clean off.

Doctors reattached it in surgery. Spent months in rehab. After a year, was back at work.

Co-worker asked him how it happened. As the poor slob was showing him, he ended up cutting his hand off again.

I kid you not.

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Leo G

Oops my a$$, idiot is all I can think.

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22rifle

More details as I get them.

The guy has "papers".

Cut was about 3 " up the forearm. 45 degree angle.

He wasn't my acquaintance's employee. He worked in a wood products manufacturing plant. My acquaintance contracted out the manufacturing of a couple lines. This guy was an employee of the contractor.

My acquaintance is in the process of taking the entire operation in house. Then the contractor will be history. This guy was next on the list. In a few hours (as in 2 to 3) he was going to be called into the office to be hired. Still no workman's comp either way.

He was cutting a treated 4x6. After he had the saw running he was moving the 4x6 and it slipped off the other support, jamming his hand up against the saw blade.

He is still in surgery.

Not sure how much insulation all this provides my acquaintance. He regards WC as an optional benefit.

Take a lesson guys.

22rifle

The acquaintance provided first aid care for the 30 minutes it took for medical care to arrive. Per medical professional's instructions they put the hand on ice in an ice chest.

Cops showed up. All gung ho to take charge even though everything was under control. "Where's the hand?" "In the ice chest." He flipped open the lid, turned green, and silently walked away to regain his composure.

Guy was choppered to a major hospital where he remains in surgery as I type.

(I have close friends in management with this company.)

Leo G

At least the guy didn't cut his own hand off. Accident do happen. ANd that was a doozie.

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atrawlings

No room for jokes there...Just a bad situation for all involved...and a good reminder for all of us who don't always give 100% attention to the task at hand...Easy to blame that on an inexperienced newb..but as a GC that wears a 1000 hats as we all do, not giving every mitre cut or run of the table saw complete attention is understandable...I hope the grace of God keeps accidents at bay for myself and all my guys....but be damn sure every one of us is insured.

22rifle

Where did you get that?

The guy did cut his own hand off. No one else was nearby.

I must not have communicated accurately.

Leo G

What I meant is that he didn't pull the blade down and cut off his hand. It slipped off the support and removed his hand.

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22rifle

Ah... gotcha...

Yep.

Hate to say it... but I wouldn't have been too... nah, ain't gonna say it... just can't make myself on this thread.

wallmaxx

Wow.

I pre-spin-up my 12" SCMS many times prior to cutting something and then find I need to adjust the piece's location on the deck.

Not any more.

Leo G

A fully functional guard would have probably saved his hand. Did it have a functioning guard?

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22rifle

There was a guard on the saw. It was not modified in any manner. Beyond that I do not know.

Leo G

Sounds like a lawyer will get involved. Also sounds like it was an accident.

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22rifle

Yep. Gonna be messy.