105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #944389

BOARD,HEART,INADEQUATE MAINT,WORK RULES,RUPTURE,SAW,ABRASION,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,UNTRAINED

Event
BOARD,HEART,INADEQUATE MAINT,WORK RULES,RUPTURE,SAW,ABRASION,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,UNTRAINED
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
944389
Report ID
453710

Event description

Employee killed when struck in chest by board

Investigation abstract

At approximately 10:55 a.m. on August 31, 1988, Employee #1 was relieving Employ acturer's written recommendations for board thickness, and improper maintenance of safety kickback fingers. ee #2, the off bearer of a ripsaw, of duty. A Diehl model SL52 ripsaw, which was located 125 in. behind Employee #2, ejected a board 52 in. long by 2 in. wide b y 1 1/8 in. thick through its safety kickback fingers. The board traveled throug h the air approximately 43 1/2 in. high and passed between Employee #2's inside lower left arm and body. Employee #2 was facing away from the machine. The board abraded his arm, landed on the saw table, bounced up, and hit Employee #1 in th e upper chest, rupturing his heart. He was killed. The accident was caused by la ck of operator training on how to set up the Diehl ripsaw according to the manuf

Victims (2)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 52 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    5
    Event type
    1
    Source
    26
    Occupation code
    727
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    2
  2. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 23 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    26
    Occupation code
    727
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

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