PUBLIC SERVICE

[Daniel1947]

I am offering this as a public service to my fellow IBoater members. I am 68 years old and have been working around hand and power tools for 55 years. Yes, I have had minor accidents as I am sure we all have. I have always followed safety rules to the best of my ability, Saturday afternoon I was in the VA hospital E.R. for over 6 hours. Why? mainly stupidity and not following "GOOD" safety practice.

First I was wearing gloves while trimming a piece of plywood to fit, and second...I forgot about the on/off switch on the table saw. I still have all my fingers and thumbs. What I have lost is the use of my left hand for 2 to 3 weeks. It only took 1, maybe 2, seconds to put me 2 or 3 weeks behind schedule. It would have taken maybe 10 seconds for the saw to stop if I had turned it off. What I am trying to get across, in an around-about way, is this: That couple of seconds of stupidity has not only cost me the opportunity of finishing the boat and getting her splashed this year, but could have cost me fingers, a thumb, major injury to my hand if the glove would have gotten caught and pulled my hand further into the blade.

The index finger of the glove caught the blade, it twisted the finger so fast and hard that the finger was fractured at the first knuckle nearest the hand, and the second knuckle was severely dislocated. The middle finger had a chunk taken out at the second knuckle; large enough that the knuckle bone was visible. Index finger will heal, however the middle finger will not be able to bend at the second knuckle. I still cannot believe how "FAST" it happened, I was so relieved when I pulled that glove off and saw all the digits.

I will let the moderators censor the photos if they feel the need to.

TURN THE POWER TOOLS OFF! They are like the "Terminator," they haven't any feelings, they don't care, and they won't stop.

 

[sphelps]

Yikes ! The only good thing ya didn't loose any fingers .. Thank goodness for that !
It does only take a second ! Hope you heal up fast !

 

[Chad Flaugher]

Don't beat yourself up my friend! (The saw already did that) We've all made mistakes in our daily lives. I lost the feeling in my ring finger due to a severe cut right through the nerve while re installing a mower blade after sharpening it. I even thought to myself, "I should put some gloves on in case the wrench slips... NAH" The wrench slipped, and off the the E.R. I went.

 

[MTboatguy]

Been there done that, glad you will not loose the use of those fingers.

 

[Daniel1947]

LOL, I wasn't beating myself up, lol, and you are right...the saw already did a good job on me. I used to twist wrench's for a living, so I know about those knuckle slips. I just hope that everyone out there will follow my one suggestion..."TURN IT OFF BEFORE YOU REACH" I still can't believe how fast it happened,

 

[Daniel1947]

MT...Doc told me the middle one probably won't ever bend so I will have to be careful when I wave, LOL

 

[jigngrub]

So how did you catch your glove in the blade when the guard was in place? Or does your saw not have a guard, or did you take the guard off?

I work construction and most of the accidents I see like this are caused because someone was distracted while operating the power tool, maybe this was the case with you too?"

The good thing is you will heal, and I'm sure you'll be paying much closer attention when operating a power tool in the future.

 

[Daniel1947]

Jig, as Forest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does." Or something like that. Yes it has a guard and yes it was off, I had the fence very close to the blade for a previous trim, and had removed the guard to see better. I wasn't distracted, I knew exactly what I was doing, I can assure you that I always turn the power tools off before reaching to remove the stock...except this once...which was the reason for my thread. Just attempting to emphasize that it will always bite you if you if you give the chance,

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Thanks for sharing your experience and for your advice. I wish you fast and speedy recovery.

 

[Woodonglass]

Being an avid woodworker for over 40 years I can relate. I had a similar experience not long ago with a "Kick Back" incident!!! I wish you a speedy recovery!!! One thing's for SURE!!! You will NEVER do that again!!!!!:faint2:

 

[gm280]

I completely understand what happen. I have to say I seen others in bad situations and therefore I take the time to turn off all power equipment before removing anything. I have forced myself for so long to WAIT for the equipment to spin down, that now it comes naturally. You can never ever be too careful around power equipment. Like you said, it takes a mere second for life changing things to happen. I can say that my grandfather actually cut all his fingers off at once with sliding wood through a table saw when I was real young. The situation was so bad that they would not let me see what happened. So please be careful and SLOW DOWN while working. The work will still be there a few second later. Make sure you limbs are too...

 

[Daniel1947]

Thanks to everyone for their response. My wish when I posted this was that 1000 or more members would take a few minutes, read the info, and learn from my mistake. As we all have noted, it only takes a second. I will heal, and you all can bet the farm that it won't happen again. Hopefully, anyone that reads this thread, will remember my experience as they are reaching towards the blade, and instead reach for the on off switch. Keep those fingers, toes and eyes safe.