Don’t Be Me – Be Safe!

As I type this using 9 fingers, I am grateful as it could have been worse! On Christmas day, no less, I was trimming a piece of oak plank on my table saw. I have always been very wary of my table saw but it bit me this time. I was using my “push stick” to move away a scrap piece I had just cut off. It didn’t move in the direction I expected and touched the back side of the blade. This immediately ejected it towards me. The good news is it hit my hand and not my head. I immediately knew I was badly cut on my right hand index finger but the finger was attached and I could bend it at the joints. I left a bloody trail as I got to the shop bandage of choice, a paper towel and some duct tape.

I conferred with my wife, who is a veterinary surgeon. She took a peek and declined to do the repair herself. I drove myself to the local ER, They were not too busy and got me right in. Six stitches, bandages, and a tetnus shot and I was on my way. But I am basically shut down to do anything useful with my right hand for a week or so.

In my career in nuclear power, we reviewed and discussed all accidents, no matter how minor, We always said that all accidents were preventable and at some level, this is true. Certainly my accident could have been avoided. My inattention around a dangerous whirling blade caused the accident. I can only blame it on myself. So Be Safe out there. The alternatives are not good.

If you are squeemish, do not curser down to the photo below.

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