Safety Warning...Be CAREFUL

cpowell · 11-12-2006, 11:19 PM

I had an accident on the jointer this evening. Was jointing the slats for a bed I just completed. I had assembled and finished the bed yesterday and was ready to carry it inside but rain delayed me all day long. I couldn't do any other work because the bed occupied the space where my tablesaw and jointer normally sit. After the rain ended I was trying to finish the slats so that I could add the box springs and mattress.

I was face jointing a board. I had passed the cutterhead and the board was on the outfeed table. I reached back with my right hand to grab the board, pick it up and move to the infeed side for a final pass and my right ring finger and pinky got into the cutterhead. I hadn't pushed the board far enough to clear the blade guard.

The primary cause was not paying attention to where I had placed my hand. I also failed to push the stock far enough to allow the blade guard to return before attempting to put my hand on the stock.

I know how to safely perform jointer operations. I just boneheaded out. I reached for the end of the board without looking.

The fingers will be just fine but the tip will look different. The little finger just got shaved on the tip, maybe 1/128th inch. The ring finger got an ugly looking avulsion but the joints are all there...just lost some meat. I guess it's a good thing I leave the jointer depth set for shallow passes.

I went to the ER and they took x-rays and wrapped the finger. Thankfully, the blade didn't make it to bone. Probably looking at a month to heal...it's not a very pretty cut.

Anyway, I just wanted to write this to remind everyone that it is extremely important to stay focused on the task at hand. It only takes a second to make a mistake. I have never even had a near miss in the past. I use push blocks and guards whenever possible. I always wear personal protective equipment, I think through the safety implications if I'm attempting a new technique. This was a case of working with a machine that I am intimately familiar with and being careless for a second.

Chuck

Travis Porter · 11-12-2006, 11:28 PM

Man oh man Chuck, I am glad you are OK and that it isn't anymore serious than it is. It is a reminder for all of us.

McRabbet · 11-12-2006, 11:29 PM

Chuck -- sorry to hear of your injury, but kudos for admitting that you made a mistake that any of us could fall prey to -- those free push blocks that many jointer manufacturers include for free are the best way I know to avoid your type of injury. My Grizzly came with a pair and they reside on the infeed side at all times. I've been religious in using them for all joining passes. I have another one for my router table and a fiberglass push fixture for my table saw. BTW -- don't forget the ear protection, too -- bloodless injury, but you only get one set of ear drums, so protect them when using all of your power tools. Ditto safety glasses (gee whiz, I sound like Normie!)

Hope the pain doesn't deter you from completing your project and that recovery is swift. To all others -- read this and heed Chuck's warning.

Rob

woodguy1975 · 11-12-2006, 11:29 PM

Ouch!!!!!!!!!

I know a guy that in highschool shop was edge jointing a board and didn't pay attention to his hand placement. Jointed off the tips of 3 fingers. Work safely with guards and proper safety equipment!

jeff... · 11-12-2006, 11:40 PM

Chuck I hear you - a few years ago I was building a bed for my daughter and cut the tip of my left thumb off with my table saw. I was doing a bunch of repetitive cuts and was not paying attention. Thank GOD my thumb tip grew back. You were smart; I didn't go to the doctor until 4 days later. I just wrapped it up real good and went back out to the shop to search for the tip of my thumb. I couldn't find it but one of my sons did a few days later, it was pretty nasty looking. Odd thing I never felt any pain, till the doctor poked around at it. My doctor was amazed by a few things, first no infection and second everything grew back. I still to this day have no feeling in it. But I'm not complaining one bit, I consider myself blessed big time and have learned to respect my table saw, like never before.

Hope all heals well and take care.

cpowell · 11-12-2006, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by McRabbet

Chuck -- sorry to hear of your injury, but kudos for admitting that you made a mistake that any of us could fall prey to -- those free push blocks that many jointer manufacturers include for free are the best way I know to avoid your type of injury. My Grizzly came with a pair and they reside on the infeed side at all times. I've been religious in using them for all joining passes. I have another one for my router table and a fiberglass push fixture for my table saw. BTW -- don't forget the ear protection, too -- bloodless injury, but you only get one set of ear drums, so protect them when using all of your power tools. Ditto safety glasses (gee whiz, I sound like Normie!)

Hope the pain doesn't deter you from completing your project and that recovery is swift. To all others -- read this and heed Chuck's warning.

Rob

Rob, I used the blocks. I had finished the cut, set the blocks atop the wood and the injury happened when I reached back to pick up the infeed side of the board. I literally didn't look where I was putting my hand.

Ditto on all PPE. I have spent my professional life working in manufacturing and process industries and always wear ear, eye protection at work and home (even on the riding mower). I do forego steel-toed boots in my shop though.

Chuck

Terry · 11-13-2006, 12:15 AM

Chuck,

I am sorry to hear you had a mishap that could have caused you alot more problems in the future. Maybe we ought to review all the tools we all have and set up a safety briefing once a week or month to keep us in focus on safety. Accidents still will happen but maybe we can prevent serious injury. I am so glad your injuries didn't cause you finger or hand loss. Get well soon. Terry

dtomasch · 11-13-2006, 01:06 AM

Oh Man...
Sorry to hear about the injury. I had a similar experience a couple years ago, and that set me straight. Think, pay attention, and plan EVERY move. That experience led me to my motto...BLOOD ON THE INSIDE! Heal quickly, my friend, and everybody count your fingers on the way into the shop and on the way out of the shop, if the number varies you did something very wrong.

Monty · 11-13-2006, 01:21 AM

Sorry about your injury - glad it wasn't more serious. Posts like this serve as a reminder to all of us to be safe.

cskipper · 11-13-2006, 06:29 AM

I'm sure glad you didn't get more injured (not that that wasn't enough). Thanks for reminding us to pay attention to what we are doing - it's so easy to let our attention wander for just that crucial split second. I like dtomasch's line - "blood on the inside". Thanks for posting.

skeeter · 11-13-2006, 09:33 AM

Glad to hear your accident wasn't any worse than it was, although that was bad enough. Jointers make some nasty wounds. Every nick on my push sticks make me think how close I was to an accident. Thanks for posting a reminder for us all.

Splinter · 11-13-2006, 09:40 AM

I'm glad you weren't hurt any worse. I cut my index finger with a circle cutter once by being stupid

and now everytime I pick it up to use I have vivid (red) memories of that day. Thanks for reminding us all to be alert in the shop. It only takes a split second to get hurt and a long time to heal.

hannah01 · 11-13-2006, 11:28 AM

Glad it wasn't more serious... Fortunately, lessons sometimes aren't too serious at first.

I cut my finger on the jointer knives when I was setting it up (not running). That was enough to instill a great deal of respect in me for that particular tool and any sharp tool in general.

It amazes me how fast you can get sliced and not even realize it until a moment later. I've still got the blood spots on the shop floor to remind me.

John Reeves · 11-13-2006, 02:46 PM

I great reminder for us all. I hope you heel quickly and enjoy the pain medicine while sitting infront of the TV!

cpowell · 11-13-2006, 07:29 PM

I saw the hand surgeon today. I decided to just let it heal - no skin graft. Didn't see any reason to make another wound. Should be fine in 3 - 5 weeks.

Good news! I put a baggie over the bandage and finished dimensioning and cutting the slats (

don't tell the doctor). Put em on the bed rail cleats and they held the box springs and mattress.

Will try to post pics when I get back from my son's scout meeting tonight before I take a pain pill and watch TV!!

Chuck

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