Safety Flash
Thumb cut – Removal of guarding/safety observation
Thumb cut – Removal of guarding/safety observation
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 05/03
- Hand and Finger InjuriesInspection and MaintenanceMachinery and Equipment
- Hand and finger injuries
- Inspection and maintenance
- Machine guarding
Summary
This safety flash describes a left-thumb cut involving a manual paper cutter whose barrier guard had been removed by another employee. It recommends checking cutters for proper guarding, not using cutters with missing guards, and keeping free hands clear of the blade even when guarding is fitted.
Classifications: Hand and finger injuries; finger injury; hand injury.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Machine guarding; machinery guards; machine guards.
Summary
Removing a paper-cutter guard exposed an operator’s thumb to the blade, demonstrating the importance of intact guarding.
IMCA SF 05/03. Themes: hand and finger injuries, inspection and maintenance, machinery and equipment.