Warning to all Angle Grinder Users
Discussion
Well I got away with it for about 30 years, but finally at about 1.10pm saturday afternoon whilst cutting up the caravan chassis that was blocking my Tiv in the garage a rather powerfull 9" Hitachi model decided to bite me.
The blade shattered ripping the grinder out of my hands which proceeded to cut through the rear of my left hand, slicing 2 tendons and cutting a nice groove into the 2 bones closest to my thumb, painfull? a bit, I didnt know it had cut me untill I tried to pick the grinder up and noticed the rather large amount of blood pumping on to the grinder as I reached for it. Anyway its all back together now thanks to a rather clever surgeon (who spent about 1.5hs picking shatterd bits of blade out of my bone and other tissue) at Tameside hospital and some wonderful Nurses on the wards there, Thanks to all of them, they really do a wonderfull job which we dont really appreciate untill we need them.
Now you probably think I am warning of the danger to your hands when using these tools, I am not, I merely want to remind all of you who are using them to wear safety glasses, just before this happened I actually pulled the trigger on the machine, realised I hadnt put my safety goggles on and let go of the trigger to put them on before I touched the steel with the blade. If I hadn't I would now be blind in at least one eye but looking at the bits everywhere I think it would probably have been both. A cut hand is one thing (4 days in hospital and a 2 hour op + hand in plaster for 7 days), a cut eye is a different story.
The blade shattered ripping the grinder out of my hands which proceeded to cut through the rear of my left hand, slicing 2 tendons and cutting a nice groove into the 2 bones closest to my thumb, painfull? a bit, I didnt know it had cut me untill I tried to pick the grinder up and noticed the rather large amount of blood pumping on to the grinder as I reached for it. Anyway its all back together now thanks to a rather clever surgeon (who spent about 1.5hs picking shatterd bits of blade out of my bone and other tissue) at Tameside hospital and some wonderful Nurses on the wards there, Thanks to all of them, they really do a wonderfull job which we dont really appreciate untill we need them.
Now you probably think I am warning of the danger to your hands when using these tools, I am not, I merely want to remind all of you who are using them to wear safety glasses, just before this happened I actually pulled the trigger on the machine, realised I hadnt put my safety goggles on and let go of the trigger to put them on before I touched the steel with the blade. If I hadn't I would now be blind in at least one eye but looking at the bits everywhere I think it would probably have been both. A cut hand is one thing (4 days in hospital and a 2 hour op + hand in plaster for 7 days), a cut eye is a different story.
Sorry, and Thanks (for the reminder).
I don't use grinding wheel if they have chunks missing form the outside edge, I used to but realized it's asking for trouble.
I also got in the habit of wearing eye protection for almost every power tool, also bought some great ear defenders. It's a lot like car seatbelts, takes a bit of getting used to then it becomes easy and normal.
Get well soon...
I don't use grinding wheel if they have chunks missing form the outside edge, I used to but realized it's asking for trouble.
I also got in the habit of wearing eye protection for almost every power tool, also bought some great ear defenders. It's a lot like car seatbelts, takes a bit of getting used to then it becomes easy and normal.
Get well soon...
I must confess to not wearing gloves, they probably would have helped a bit, but there is always a concern over gloves, loose sleeves etc when using rotating machinery I will probably wear them in future as an extra measure after this episode though.
Im sure the hand will be fine in a week or two, and I am avoiding any DIY for at least 1mth before S Club just to be on the safe side.
Im sure the hand will be fine in a week or two, and I am avoiding any DIY for at least 1mth before S Club just to be on the safe side.
Actually if I had known the weather was going to be this good , I could have got them to cast the gearknob into the plaster and voila! I could have been having some fun now
On a serious note I'm sure it will be fine when the plasters off, I can move all my fingers already, they really are a clever lot aren't they.
On a serious note I'm sure it will be fine when the plasters off, I can move all my fingers already, they really are a clever lot aren't they.
clarenceboddiger said:
Actually if I had known the weather was going to be this good , I could have got them to cast the gearknob into the plaster and voila! I could have been having some fun now
On a serious note I'm sure it will be fine when the plasters off, I can move all my fingers already, they really are a clever lot aren't they.
Ah well good to see where your priorities are!On a serious note I'm sure it will be fine when the plasters off, I can move all my fingers already, they really are a clever lot aren't they.
Get well soon Ken.
Chris
)We all get a little relaxed with H & S when at home, when preparing my chassis, I found a large grinding wheel and thought - aha this will sort things out quickly - it was to big to fit in my angle grinder, therefore I took the guard off so it would fit, fortunatly it only gave me a little kiss and a huge fright when the obvious happened, suprising how often hold the guard when using a grinder without thinking, after a little sit down, I put the original disk back on with the guard.
Glad your on the mend.
BR
Sean
Glad your on the mend.
BR
Sean
Ahh yes nasty things, glad to hear they stiched you all back together.
I had a recent incident with one & a wire brush wheel, the pokey outey type ones. Buzzing away when I caught an edge, it lurched out of my hands into the trouser zone of my overalls
where it duly wound itself up into my nads I got away with it thanks to some baggy overalls, but it was close very close 
Be careful out there boys
I had a recent incident with one & a wire brush wheel, the pokey outey type ones. Buzzing away when I caught an edge, it lurched out of my hands into the trouser zone of my overalls
where it duly wound itself up into my nads I got away with it thanks to some baggy overalls, but it was close very close Be careful out there boys
cptsideways said:
Ahh yes nasty things, glad to hear they stiched you all back together.
I had a recent incident with one & a wire brush wheel, the pokey outey type ones. Buzzing away when I caught an edge, it lurched out of my hands into the trouser zone of my overalls where it duly wound itself up into my nads I got away with it thanks to some baggy overalls, but it was close very close
Be careful out there boys
Thanks for all the responses folks, really is appreciated and it sounds as though it was worth voicing the reminder, it also sounds like its not just the highballs that are at riskI had a recent incident with one & a wire brush wheel, the pokey outey type ones. Buzzing away when I caught an edge, it lurched out of my hands into the trouser zone of my overalls
where it duly wound itself up into my nads I got away with it thanks to some baggy overalls, but it was close very close Be careful out there boys
(sorry Dec', couldn't resist)Edited by clarenceboddiger on Wednesday 13th February 21:43
Meant to use the red-face smilie to signify embarrasment, as mention above of protective goggles was something of a sore point.
Always use goggles, I had wood chippings in my eye for my trouble once using a skill saw in a hurry, I imagine steel filings bombarding an eyeball would be torture,
Mine was...
eye clinic>
Eye pad for week>
Off work for a few days,
Not doing that again
My sympathy to OP, I think you actually got off quite lightly this time.
having re-read OP comments, you've not got off THAT lightly after all my apologies
Always use goggles, I had wood chippings in my eye for my trouble once using a skill saw in a hurry, I imagine steel filings bombarding an eyeball would be torture,
Mine was...
eye clinic>
Eye pad for week>
Off work for a few days,
Not doing that again
having re-read OP comments, you've not got off THAT lightly after all my apologies
Edited by Dave spart on Friday 15th February 20:28
6 months ago I cut through the tendons, nerves and arteries of two fingers including the volar plate ligaments on both PIP joints. Terrible injury, including a 12h op with recovery time, and a week in hospital.
I cannot stress enough just how important it will be to take special care of your injury when you get it out of the caste.
But, I can assure you that time and effort on your part with your rehab will make all the difference. Do not give up and you should be prepared to spend 15 minutes every 2 hours doing some kind of rehab for the first year.
Don't give up and you should have a very good chance of an almost full recovery.
Best of luck and get well soon.
Steve
I cannot stress enough just how important it will be to take special care of your injury when you get it out of the caste.
But, I can assure you that time and effort on your part with your rehab will make all the difference. Do not give up and you should be prepared to spend 15 minutes every 2 hours doing some kind of rehab for the first year.
Don't give up and you should have a very good chance of an almost full recovery.
Best of luck and get well soon.
Steve
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff