Thread: Casualty List

I must be super safety conscious or lucky (I like to think it's the first). The only injuries I can recall in all my time in the workshop are a slightly nicked finger on the bandsaw, and a big bruise on my hip.

The first was from too much push and not enough push stick, and the second was from not looking in the same direction as I was walking (until I walked into the corner of my tablesaw).

Ozwinner's stanley knife story reminds me of a guy I worked with during my apprenticeship. We were using scalpels to strip the outer sheathing off data cabling. I'd just changed the blade on his scalpel for him, and on the next cable the blade slipped and he plunged it into his thigh right up to the handle. Interestingly the wound didn't even bleed when he pulled the blade out, possibly because it was so sharp. On went a bandaid and on with the show. Lucky he didn't hit his femoral artery, the story might have been a bit different if that was the case.

Stay safe guys, one momentary lapse in concentration or work practices and you could regret it for life.


Cheers,


Justin.

When I posted that I had a small injury everytime after a workshop session, I mainly meant splinters and small cuts (mainly from sharp wood/metal edges - damn sheet metal).

I am VERY aware of the dangers my toys pose having seen some posters years ago hanging on the walls at a QLD Forestry Workshed. These were photos of the results of real accidents mainly involving chainsaws but also some with table saws as well as most other tools (even a screwdriver impaled in a hand).

So, I always think (and measure) twice before doing/cutting anything. Also, I ensure that any guards are inplace and functioning correctly. In cases were a guard cannot be used, for instance, using a Tenon Jig on the Table Saw, I am highly aware of the added risks and take particular note of where the blade is (and will be), where all the parts of my anatomy are and where I am standing (ie not in kickback alley). As others have said - take your time and think before doing anything.

While it seems as though parttimers are more prone to accidents, it happens to professionals too. I think the difference may be that amateurs lose concentration and get distracted more easily.

Like today. I had the router in the table. I turned it off. I turned off the safety switch. I turned it off at the wall. I took the fence off. I saw there was a bit of sawdust on the top, and swept my hand across to remove it. Right over the blade, of course. Fortunately not deep, just irritating, but it was one of those "what was i thinking?" moments.

On the other hand. Literally, since that was my left hand, and with my dad it was the right hand. Dad was a chippie for over 30 years with the army. Chippy, builder, cabinet maker, renovator-of-offices-messes, maker-of-childrens-toys. Not too long before he retired, he had a piece of timber yank his hand into a big jointer, which shaved the side off his right hand. Fortunately he was left handed. Was he distracted? No. Did he know what he was doing? Yes. Was the tool faulty? No. He never could explain exactly how it happened, it just happened that somehow it kicked and pulled his hand in.

I miss my dad. I still have all of his razor sharp chisels, which I keep razor sharp because he taught me how to be careful.

Originally Posted by sailingamerican

I fall off roofs because of a bad ear. The list never ends.

If this wasn't such a serious thread, I think the above was a reallybad (or clever) pun
Who said yanks have no sense of humour?
I'm with you guys. I rarely hurt myself with power tools since I drilled a hole between my thumb and foefinger when I was 19. Painful and required surgery months later for internal bleeding. Now all my injuries are related to firewood, fires, alcohol and idiocy. Not power tools.The injuries always come when I don't think I'm doing real work or play.
Dumb huh.

As Hovo says this is indeed a serious subject and is not to be trivialized.

As one who had his own personal wakeup call with a nail gun when a 3” nail ricochet into my knee I have come to the conclusion that accidents don’t happen but are planned.

Norm in his TV show warns of the danger by saying let’s first talk about shop safety, but then ignores his own advice by using machines without guards :mad: , and misses the most important safety rule which is
“USE YOUR BRAIN AND THINK SAFETY”

Think about what you are going to do, practise a dry run first if necessary, and plan to do the work in a safe manner. Using unsafe practices is unwittingly planning an accident.

Some examples of the planned accidents, and no doubt others can think of more, are the result of:

Using a nail gun on old hardwood (mine),
Using a machine without its guards,
Using the wrong tool for the job,
Using blunt cutting tools,
Using your fingers as push sticks or hold downs,
Using a tool incorrectly,
Working when tired or upset,
Working when unwell,
Working in an untidy shop not cleaning up as you go,

And my favourite no no – Working with a jig that requires removal of the machine guard without building into the jig replacement safety guards. Now all these planned accidents can be avoided by planning how we are going to work in the shop.

Now whilst this may have touched a raw nerve and I may be paranoid about shop safety, I feel that the time spent in hospital after an accident could have been better spent avoiding them in the first place so plan to be safe in your workshop.

After my recent chisel & thumb incident ( see my "ouch" post). I have resolved to do a major tidy up of the workshop & get things in order.

I don't hurt myself very often & usualy not badly but I've had stiches twice in a year. I hadn't needed to be sewn up since & was a kid.

I think it is a matter of more care and awareness.

But if you work enviroment is clean, tidy, comfortable & well set out you tend to be safer, make less mistakes and work more effectively & efficiently.
I think its more than not tripping over things, its an order & cayos thing.

I'm also thinking I'll buy one of those safety books that you give to aprentices & read it once in a while just to remind myself to keep the sharp end pointing the other way.

One of the problems when you work for your self of by youself is that there is no one there to remind you of your foolishness. I now have a 2" long reminder right down my thumb, but I thing I would rather have read a book.

cheers chaps
Gives wood workers salute showing all 10 fingers.

At one of our best-known woodwork schools, any accident or near accident is discussed by teacher & students as to how it happened and how it could be avoided. Any accident that draws blood gets an analysis in the 'book of blood'. IMHO this way of getting people to think safely is at least as important as guards etc.

In the year I was there, there was only one bloodletting, from a handsaw (but it went to the bone and needed a few stitches).

And remember, no blood, no sympathy.

I managed to nick my middle finger right on the last joint through stupidity and laziness.
The blade on my triton is out of allignment which means I can't use the blade guard because the work hits the guard upright and won't go through.

Thought I was being careful, but I tried to reach through the spinning blade to get a piece of timber.
Fortunatley it wasn't deep and I managed to aviod getting blood on the nice furniture grade pine I'd just bought.

Suffice to say the blade has now been realligned.
Cheers
Smidsy

Just an add on here guys but a chap I know only recently took off the top joint of his right thumb and this guy is a craftsman with a lotta years in his trade.
"Perhaps one senior moment when the engine revs were'nt right," I said to him saying that his mind was'nt in gear and he readily alluded to the stupidity of not having his mind on the job. Be 3 months before he can use that hand effectively so in the meantime he's catching up on my wood mags.
Fortunately he did'nt lose the whole digit but the ignominy after all those years leaves him in no doubt that its a helluva learning curve to suddenly do without part of your anatomy the psychological impact will weigh heavy with his popularity in the trade though outwardly I guess he's cheerful enough!

Take care out there.
Cheers

Stuck my thumb in the router once, completely mashed the tip, blood and flesh all over my work. Doc siad there was nothing he could do with it so he wrapped it up and sent me on my way. My thumb that is.
I have a hard lump of skin now which gets thicker and thicker until I have to pare it off. Usually do this while watching TV or when visiting the wife's rellies and the conversation starts to drag.

Some people are definitely accident prone. One of my sons is forever doing something to himself but he only does it once then he finds a new way to half kill himself - very resourceful that way.

Another lesson learned..
As an apprentice while using a drill press I thought I'd just brush away some swarf and I got my hand caught on the bit (Was wearing gloves which is a no no as I found out) and had my hand dragged into the spinning mess. Luckily the vee belt slipped after twisting my thumb around the bit backwards. Thank goodness it wasn't a gear driven drill press! Luckily no permanent damage, it was black and blue and too sore to use for months.

So team, please, whatever you do, don't smoke , sorry, don't wear gloves at the drill press and always use a brush to brush away the swarf/saw dust.

Came across a simular situation also as a apprentice. Was working in a toolroom and a tradesman was wearing cotton gloves while drilling. He went to brush the swarf away from the table with his hand while the drill press was still running. As he was doing so the drill bit grabed the glove in the middle of his hand and proceed to drill straight though his hand.
End of the day comes down to common sense.

When i was a young fella, i worked at a company in the uk making bee hives
i used to cut the rails for the bottoms of the honey racks it was a multiple rip
set up 12 blades going a very high rev[belt driven] controlled by a large wooden lever. ankle deep in saw dust. one day i slipped feeding the brute my arm caught the blades full on it was like being hit with a sledge hammer and threw me back accross the shed to every ones supprise not a mark. or blood !

On the other hand...

Wearing the right safety gear can help a lot. Many moons ago I was drilling through a piece of round aluminium rod on a drill press. The rod twisted, the bit shattered, and I had the entertaining and very educational sight of pieces of high speed steel bouncing off the front of my safety goggles, a few millimeters from my eyes.

Ya can't be too careful, can you!