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Worker cutting concrete pipe flown to hospital with saw injury to face
By Nancy Gaarder / World-Herald staff writer
A construction worker suffered a severe cut to his face when a saw he was using apparently struck him.
Logan French, 25, was flown from 180th Street and Cornhusker Road to the Nebraska Medical Center in serious condition.
The work site injury occurred about 11 a.m. Tuesday. Emergency personnel from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and Gretna Fire Department were called to the scene. Initial reports indicated that French was injured by a saw, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
French was lying on the side of the road when sheriff’s officers arrived. Paramedics from Gretna EMS stabilized French and called for a medical helicopter.
French was using a saw to cut a concrete pipe, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.
French is an employee of Thompson Construction in Fremont, Nebraska.
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GRETNA, Neb. (KMTV) -
Authorities say a construction worker was injured by a saw while cutting concrete in eastern Nebraska's Sarpy County. The accident occurred around 10:50 a.m.
Tuesday at a construction site just southwest of Omaha. Gretna fire department medics treated the man for a severe face laceration, and then he was flown to Nebraska Medical Center for treatment.
He's been identified as 25-year-old Logan French.
Kickback can occur whenever the blade stops suddenly by binding up, jamming or hitting a foreign object. Saw blades build up tremendous kinetic energy during cutting and when they stop suddenly the energy must go somewhere, causing the blade to strike the operator or causing the operator to drop the saw on their legs or feet.
There are two main ways to reduce saw kickback: prevent the blade from stopping suddenly and reduce your chances of being struck if the saw does stop. There are four elements that you can control to reduce the chances of kickback.
Saw:
- Do not use a saw that is too heavy for you to control.
- Do not try to remove or pull back the blade guard.
- Do not cut with the upper front quadrant of the saw’s blade.
- Operate the saw at the manufacturer’s recommended speed.
- Set the blade at no greater than 1/8″ to 1/4″ more than the thickness of the material to avoid contacting foreign items while cutting.
- Keep your blade sharp. Dull blades are more likely to bind up in cuts.
- Keep your blade clean. Blades sticky with sap or other materials increase the chance of binding.
- Avoid using tooth blades as these increase the risk of kickback.
- Never allow the blade to overheat.
- Make sure your blade is the right size for the saw.
- Wear all the appropriate personal protective equipment while cutting.
- Make sure you are trained in proper cutting techniques, safety, and how to hold the saw.
- Maintain your balance and footing at all times. Avoid overreaching and sawing in awkward positions.
- Don’t stand directly behind the saw. This reduces the chances of being struck if it does kick back.
- Avoid long-term, repetitive cutting. Cutting while tired will cause you to stand closer to the saw and increase your risk of being struck.
- Be careful.
- Allow the saw to reach full speed before starting the cut.
- Don’t lean into the cut. Leaning in places you closer to the saw and makes it more likely to be struck if the saw kicks back.
- Don’t make off-center or crooked cuts. Only cut in straight lines.
- Take your finger off the trigger or power switch if the blade binds up, the saw stalls or the power is interrupted.
Common Defects and Design Flaws Found in Circular Saws
There are a number of safety features that must be included in the design of modern circular saws that include the presence of a safety guard, kickback dog and saw stop device. While the design of the saw may include these features, it is possible for them to fail during use, which could result in catastrophic injury or death. Some common defects we have noticed include the following.- Defective safety guard— the safety guard is designed to keep the saw from contacting the operator’s hand during use. If the guard fails and the operator’s hand slips, it can result in the loss of fingers or the victim’s hand.
- Kickback dog failure— the kickback dog is meant to keep material that has been cut from being propelled back in the direction of the person using the saw. When the device fails, the objects being cut can become high speed projectiles and cause injuries to the face, head or brain.
- Defective blade— if the saw blade does not perform its intended function, it can fracture and send debris flying into the operator’s face or body. Others in the area around the saw may also be injured by flying pieces of metal if they are in the path of the objects when the blade fails.
- Device alterations— an employer may alter a circular saw after purchase in order to make it more efficient for its intended use. Such alteration may compromise safety, however, putting an employee at risk of injury.
Types of Injuries Experienced Due to Circular Saw Defects
The most commonly associated injury linked to circular saws is the loss of fingers or a hand, but there are a number of injuries that may result from the saw’s failure or a poor design. These can include the following.- Crushed limbs or digits— it is possible for the circular saw to crush the operator’s hand or fingers when it fails rather than removing the affected body parts.
- Injuries to the eyes— if the safety guard or kickback dog fails, projectiles can cause injury to the eyes. In some cases, the worker may be blinded.
- Facial injuries— blade fractures, explosions, projectiles and other failures can send materials into the victim’s face. This may result in permanent scars, disfigurement and blunt force trauma.
- Traumatic brain injuries— when objects strike the head at a high velocity, it is possible for the victim to experience an injury to the brain even if he or she doesn’t notice any symptoms immediately. Microtears inside of the brain can cause swelling over time that may lead to permanent brain damage.