Description of accident
A worker was using a circular saw to cut timbers to the
required size. He was holding onto the timber piece
using his right hand and holding the handle of the
machine with his left hand. During the process of
cutting, his right hand’s thumb was cut off (see picture
1).
Investigation Findings
The accident happened when the injured worker was
holding onto the shorter side of the timber piece
while cutting using the circular saw machine. His right
hand’s thumb was placed directly below the blade of
the circular saw and was consequently severed off.
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Pic 1: Injured’s right thumb during the
accident
Pic 2: Re-enactment of cutting
process during the accident
Case study 1: Worker’s thumb severed by circular saw
Lesson learnt
• The method adopted by the injured worker of using the circular saw machine to cut the timber
into the desired size by placing one’s hand directly below the rotating saw blade of the circular
saw was an unsafe practice
• The company should conduct Risk Assessment to identify hazards and implement appropriate
control measures for all work activities and operation of machineries in the workplace
• Workers should not hold the timber piece (especially the short side of the timber) during the
cutting process; and the hand must be kept away from the cutting blade at all times. For thicker
and heavier timber pieces, the workers would need to secure them using the F-clamp or
appropriate clamp(s) before cutting is carried out
• The company should use appropriate machine, equipment or tool when carrying out special
task
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Case study 1: Worker’s thumb severed by circular saw
Description of accident
The injured worker was cutting a wooden plank using
table saw when his left fingers came into contact with
the saw-blade. He informed the company director that
he had cut his fingers. The carpenter suffered
amputations of his left thumb, index and middle
fingers, and nail bed grafting on the left ring finger.
Investigation Findings
The carpenter was using the table-saw machine to cut
the plank into the desired size, where he hold and
push the material towards the rotating saw-blade with
his hands that resulted in having his fingers severed by
the exposed rotating saw blade.
Pic 1: The table saw that was
involved in the accident
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Pic 2: Guard was not installed
during the day of accident
Pic 3: Table saw guard was available
but was removed prior to the
accident
Case study 2: Worker’s fingers severed by table saw
Lesson learnt
• The worker was operating the table saw with exposed rotating saw-blade without the safety guard installed
• There was no risk assessment conducted for the table saw activities and safe work procedures were also
not established for the use of table saw
• The company should conduct a risk assessment to identify hazards and implement appropriate control
measures for all work activities and operation of machineries in workplaces; such as provision of safety
features or devices (i.e. guards) to prevent its accidental removal and to maintain its effectiveness
• The method adopted by the injured worker of using the table saw machine to cut the plank into the
desired size, where he hold and push the material towards the rotating saw-blade with his hands was an
unsafe practice
• The company should use safety means or tools for safe handling of the work piece, and in this case, such as
a push stick to push the material to the saw blade and prevent the injured’s hands from coming into
contact with the rotating saw-blade
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Case study 2: Worker’s fingers severed by table saw
Description of accident
The injured worker used the table saw for cutting the groove
on the bottom panel of timber door frame (see pic 3) as he
had seen his senior did it. In the process of doing that, he
used his hands instead of a push stick; the injured’s fingers
came into contact with the rotating saw blade of the table
saw which resulted in amputation.
Investigation Findings
It was also the occupier practice to use the table saw to cut
the groove on timber or wooden plank.
In carrying out such operation, the safe guard hood for the
rotating saw blade must be removed as it would obstruct
the timber from being pushed forward.
Pic 1: The table saw that was
involved in the accident
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Pic 3: To cut the groove
(highlighted in red) for installing
bottom panel of timber door
frames.
Pic 4: Table saw guard was available
but was removed prior to the
accident.
Pic 2: Injured worker’s fingers after
the accident
Case study 3: Worker’s fingers severed by table saw
Lesson learnt
• Safe work procedures on cutting of groove on timber or wooden plank using table saw were not
established
• The method adopted by the company to remove the safety guard to cut the groove on timber or
wooden plank using the table saw machine, where he hold and push the material towards the
exposed rotating saw-blade with his hands was an unsafe practice
• The company should adopt a safer method to cut the groove for the bottom panel of the timber
door frames with an appropriate equipment (router) solution which was available in the market
currently, instead of using the table saw
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Case study 3: Worker’s fingers severed by table saw
