Another Grinder Injury Hits Home

[rake60]

I doubt that very many here have had an opportunity to use a 9" right angle
hand held grinder. Were I work they are call Wild Cats.

Saturday morning one of our experienced inspectors was doing a bit of touch manual
touch up on a job with one of them.

The wheel caught and got away from him ripping across the back of his left hand.
He underwent surgery to repair damaged tendons and all hopes are that he will
recover full use of that hand.

Right now his left hand is bandaged up to the size of a regulation boxing glove.
Only time will tell what comes out of those bandages.

It's that REAL and it happens that quickly.

Rick

 

[BobWarfield]

One of the best things about taking up real machinework is I've completely lost any desire to use any large handheld power tool like the one you describe. For the most part, I have better ways to accomplish the task now, and they're safer to boot!

Even using hand tools with no power, I've become a lot more sensitive to the idea that if I have to bear down too hard, I've lost a lot of control and anything that gives way suddenly is an accident waiting to happen. So I get the right tool for the job and take it easy and the job goes easy.

Cheers,

BW

 

[wareagle]

Rick, sorry to hear about your co-worker. I hope he recovers quickly and fully! It hurts to even think about!!!

Bob, great point about using the correct tool for the job. How many times have we (myself included) used a screwdriver as a chisel or prybar? More than I could ever remember, and likely many out there are the same way. But using an improper tool for a given application is a bad practice to be in!

Work safe!! Play safe!!

 

[Twinsquirrel]

Ouch, my heart goes out to your co-worker, it always seems to be when we do a "quick" touch up job that things go wrong. I have some experience of tendon damage on my right hand and forearm from a model helicopter accident and I can tell you that it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced and after surgery took an absolute age to heal. They were clean cuts from sharp CF tail rotor blades, I cant imagine what his hand would have looked like after an attack from a dirty grinder.

Give him our best wishes if you can.

David

 

[Stan]

Large heavy duty angle grinders are probably the most dangerous portable tool in the shop. Many years ago, I had one grab and although it didn't get away from me, it sliced across my clothes and left a burn mark across my stomach. I could have been disemboweled very easily.

Big electric drills just break arms when they get away. Big grinders can kill.

Most hand held power tools have a button to lock the trigger switch in the ON position. It is positioned to be easily operated by the thumb when holding the tool in the right hand. When the tool grabs and twists the tool in the right hand, pressure it put on the lock button keeping the tool running even though you instinctively release the trigger.

 

[Divided He ad]

I've seen first hand the destructive nature of a large petrol powered disc cutter, it snagged in the slab being cut and shattered the disc, which flew up and sliced the throat of Tommy (the operator) Knocking him off his feet!! by some miracle it missed his Main artery/veins and his esophagus as it passed between them in an upward direction continuing to slice through his left jaw area as well. Didn't break any bones just went through his skin like it wasn't there! Everyone thought he was a gonna.

He Never lost conciseness and was insistant that it would be ok and the ambulance was not necessary!!!!Also sold the doc' to just tape it up!! We say some daft stuff when we are trying to be all butch ehh!?
It was like a first hand anatomy lesson, you could see all the bits in there..... Luckily he has a wrinkly face and the huge scar fits right in!!!!
(oddly enough he was made redundant two weeks ago and left today, sign of the times?!)

Needless to say we all use grinders a lot more carefully these days.


Hope your bud's hand is ok Rick.... Can't imagine the struggle without the use of both of them.



Ralph.

 

[georgeseal]

Meany years back I got one of those massive 1/2 drill motors that will break both your arm. Before it was ever plugged in the trigger lock was removed.

Sometimes we do things that are not safe because we don't know any better.

when you dilebertly do the unsafe that is (to me) unforgivable.

Be well be safe and be prosperious.

 

[derekm]

Rick, sorry to hear about your co-worker. I hope he recovers quickly and fully! It hurts to even think about!!!

Bob, great point about using the correct tool for the job. How many times have we (myself included) used a screwdriver as a chisel or prybar? More than I could ever remember, and likely many out there are the same way. But using an improper tool for a given application is a bad practice to be in!

Work safe!! Play safe!!

How true but it works both ways using too small a tool for the jump... I dont like using the 9" angle grinder. My wife, who has used one forbids me to use it if I'm on my own back to the story ...
My friend wanted to remove and replace some 6mm strip on his narrow boat. we both started using 4.5" angle grinders and it was very slow and as usual my friend started to go faster. We had a few near misses with grinders sticking and jumping luckily one of the grinders burn out before we damaged ourselves badly.
I got out the 9" and it sliced through cleanly, quickly and safely. Similarly for grinding to clean up.

Right tool (small or large) for the job is safest -

 

[georgeseal]

TEST

Test

test

 

[doubleboost]

Angle grinders are a tool i use at work all the time ,we have a big wolf grinder with a thin disc for cutting stainless pipe
I picked it up one day placed it on the bench disc down plugged it in and the thing started up spinning wildly,Some idiot had locked the trigger on with the little button on the side .
The lock buttons have now been removed from all the grinders in the shop .I would strongly recomend you check yours and disable this dangerous feature
Be Safe
John