Accidental fatal craniocerebral injury caused by broken chain of sawing tool

Šidlo, Jozef; Šidlová, Henrieta

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.05.045

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The wound morphology depends on the projectile's velocity, size of the impact face and type of the tissues penetrated [4]. Work-related penetrating injuries are commonly linked to high-revolution rotating blade power tools like circular saws [5,6], angle grinders [7][8][9] and lawn mowers [10,11]. In such instances, the projectile is either launched as a detached tool component or mobilised as a deflected object with a potential to reach terminal velocity of a cartridge-driven projectile from handguns [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between the hammer and the anvil: An unusual power hammer fatality

Sivulič,

Janík,

Hejna

et al. 2024

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Power hammers are mechanised forging devices that constitute a pivotal part of steel manufacturing. Power hammer‐associated injuries are a rare occurrence. We report a noteworthy case of a 52‐year‐old man who sustained a high‐energy penetrating injury while working with a power (counterblow) hammer. The man used a sizable disc‐shaped metallic object to dislodge the forging wedged in the machine by applying the force of the striking ram on it. On impact, the object ejected and struck the man in the right lateral portion of the chest. The autopsy disclosed extensive damage to the thoracic and abdominal organs. The cause of death was opined to be exsanguination due to penetrating trauma of the heart and transection of the descending aorta. The investigation confirmed a breach of safety regulations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first power (counterblow) hammer‐related fatality in medico‐legal literature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Between the hammer and the anvil: An unusual power hammer fatality

Sivulič,

Janík,

Hejna

et al. 2024

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…Suicides constitute the most frequent manner of death in cases involving injuries caused by chain and circular saws , while accidents are less frequent and homicides extremely rare ; nonfatal injuries are mostly accidental . This is in contrast to rip saw injuries, where both fatal and nonfatal injuries are almost always accidental.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal and Nonfatal Rip Saw Injuries

Handlosová

Klabal

Dokoupil

et al. 2019

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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This paper deals with a fatal stab wound suffered by a 29-year-old man and nonfatal injuries of 35-year-old and 67-year-old saw operators. Rip saw is a machine that is specially designed for making a rip cut, a cut made parallel to the direction of the wood grain. Rip-saw-related injuries mostly occur when a person is struck by the cutting material, which usually involves splinters of irregular shape and diameter. When the splinter strikes the body diagonally, the injuries may include abrasions, lacerations, and cut wounds; in situations where the victim is struck directly, the most common injuries are oval-or star-shaped stab wounds with a varying width of abrasions around the wounds. Therefore, such injuries may come across as injuries produced by a knife-like instrument, which is an added difficulty in the interpretation of such injuries.A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood though sometimes metal or stone (1,2). These days, there are many types of saws that differ not only in their use and source of power used, but also in the variety of injuries that they can produce either if a person gets into direct contact with the saw blade or if struck by the material that is sawed, or chipped parts of the tool (3). This paper deals with injuries suffered when working with a rip saw. The first case involves a fatal stab wound of a 29-year-old man while the second involves nonfatal injuries of 35-year-old and 67-year-old men. Case Reports Case 1The first case involves a fatal injury of 29-year-old man, who was struck by a wood splinter ejected from a rip saw. Immediately after suffering the injury, the victim managed to remove the splinter from his chest, but later collapsed and became unconscious. Despite timely and professional medical attention, he died.

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“…Therefore, during a one-second contact with the saw chain, up to 700 cutting links can penetrate the human body. Injuries caused by contact with the saw chain can therefore be extensive and severe, and often can even be fatal for the injured party [8,9]. According to US data, various chainsaw users suffer injuries caused by saw chains, including woodcutters, forest nursery workers, and other professional users of these machines, as well as those who use chainsaws in households.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis and Laboratory Testing of Technical Injury Prevention Measures for Portable Combustion Chainsaws

Dąbrowski

2020

Forests

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Portable chainsaws for cutting wood, like other handheld machines, are commonly used for mechanical work. Portable combustion chainsaws are still used in many countries, including Poland, as basic wood harvesting machines and in agriculture. The use of portable chainsaws, however, poses a high risk of injury, especially with the phenomenon of kickback. Important European documents (e.g., 2006/42/EC) qualify these machines as a specific group, and assessing them for compliance with the essential applicable requirements (before placing them on the market) can be done with the participation of a third party (notified body). In Poland, only employees with appropriate training are allowed to work with chainsaws for professional wood harvesting. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the hazards posed by portable combustion chainsaws. A practical assessment was conducted of the effectiveness of the most relevant technical solutions used to protect operators from injury. Reference is made to tests on chainsaws that were carried out as part of scientific research (described in previous publications) and as part of research commissioned by market surveillance authorities operating in Poland. The presented research results show that the risk of injury caused by the use of chainsaws is influenced not only by the design features of the machines but also by their proper use, including the selection of equipment appropriate to the working conditions (e.g., wood type and properties, use of chainsaws for professional or non-professional work).Forests 2020, 11, 276 2 of 16 (saw chain) can easily reach a position where it comes into contact with the operator's body. Under the assumption, according to CEN (European Committee for Standardization) [7], that the saw chain can run even at a speed of 28 m/s on the guide bar, a calculation can be made that characterizes the risk posed by contact with the tool. A typical saw chain, which the chain is equipped with, has a chain pitch t of 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) (Figure 1).Forests 2019, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 17 handheld chainsaw is always close to the operator, which means that its moving and unprotected work tool (saw chain) can easily reach a position where it comes into contact with the operator's body. Under the assumption, according to CEN (European Committee for Standardization) [7], that the saw chain can run even at a speed of 28 m/s on the guide bar, a calculation can be made that characterizes the risk posed by contact with the tool. A typical saw chain, which the chain is equipped with, has a chain pitch t of 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) (Figure 1).

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Accidental fatal craniocerebral injury caused by broken chain of sawing tool

Cited by 10 publications

References 28 publications

Between the hammer and the anvil: An unusual power hammer fatality

Between the hammer and the anvil: An unusual power hammer fatality

Fatal and Nonfatal Rip Saw Injuries

Analysis and Laboratory Testing of Technical Injury Prevention Measures for Portable Combustion Chainsaws

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