Not for the faint of heart......

[SpdRcrZ]

Just shy of 3 years ago, I was injured at work.

A bit of back ground. I was working for a small company in Waukesha, running a 6 color Printing Press. Prior to employment here, I had never ran a press before (other then stamping presses I guess). After about 6 months of "training" I was moved from 1st shift, to 2nd shift. I had a "helper" with me, but he had been with the company a month less then I, and had even less experience (just out of High School). Needless to say, we pretty much learned everything "on the fly".

Just over 2 years into it, I had my "accident". By now the "helper" had been bumped up to "Mounter" (owner's nephew), and was now on 1st shift. I had a few "helpers" come and go, none ever worked out. At this time I had been running the press alone for probably 6 months. Technically I was also "Alone" in my department, however the other department and mine shared one large open area.

The night of the accident, I had just returned from lunch. Started the press as usual, did all my check ups I do right after starting it, and settled into watching the print. I noticed a "random" blemish in the printing, so following my training, I slowed the press down, climbed the ladder/stair case to the "viewing area" behind the press, and procedded to wipe the drum with a rag. After the first pass, I looked at the rag and seen some shit on it. Folded the rag over and did another pass. Thats when things went wrong. Not sure how, but my right hand got caught under the steel drive bar, and pulled in. My left hand was on the "Stop" button, but was pulled off it when I was jerked forward. I had to physically calm myself down, and search for the button, while getting pulled/dragged into the press. Fortianatly for me, my elbow was to large to fit under the drive bar, and saved me from loosing my arm. Now I was stuck, and stuck good. My arm was trapped/squished down under the steel bar, which was just a hair over a 1/2" away from the drum. The flesh/muscle that already passed the bar was now swollen and there was no way I could back the press up and get my arm out. My hand was half way under a second bar, that had even less clearance (about 1/4"). I couldn't tell if my fingers where still there or not. Couldn't see or feel them. I yelled for help, and one of the Mexican workers from the other department heard me and came running over, and yelled for the second shift Super.

I was trapped there, with my arm crushed, for about 40 mins. 15 - 20 mins waiting for the Emergency crews to get there, and another 20 while they figured out how to get me out. I guess I made the Waukesha paper, and I think a blerp in the J/S Local section.

Enough with the talk, on to the pics.
Injury happend 9/18/06
First pic 9/21/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/MyHand.jpg
9/23/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/MyHand2.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/ArmColor.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/ArmColor2.jpg
10/3/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand3.jpg
10/12/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand4.jpg

As you can see, the flesh/skin is dying. That is the worst smell imaginable.

10/20/06 They cut off the rotting flesh, exposing the fat and other crap you have under the skin.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand5.jpg
11/1/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand5.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/MyHand7.jpg
12/12/06
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/12-12-06_2046.jpg

Skipping ahead to May '07, when I had a surgery to release some of the banding caused by the scaring.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/05-08-07Hand.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/05-08-07Hand2.jpg

Thats all of the pics I have at the moment, I'll add some of what it looks like now, tomorrow.

After an investigation by OSHA, they where found guilty of 21+ violations, and fined quite a bit (forgot the amount off the top of my head).

I just received my "End of Healing" exam, and I'm awaiting the judgment from the State on my Percentage of Disability. Strength wise, its stronger then my left hand, but thats to be expected since I'm right hand dominant. I have lost quite a bit of feeling in the palm of my hand, and some movement. Makes it a bitch to carry anything small in that hand, I always drop it (coins, screws....)

Just figured I'd share my story. I'm no longer with that company (was there another 2 years after the accident, so 4.5 years all together). I now work for Pepsi, driving truck, and make way more money then I did running a printing press at that company. Just wish I didnt have this constant reminder of my time working there.

Lesson learned...... never risk a limb for a stupid job.

[95mustang302]

wow, thats horrible, be thankful that your even still alive after something like that, it could ahve gone much differently.

[Yooformula]

man sorry to see that and I agree it could have been alot worse!

[Lash]

Wow man. That must have been scary as shit. Did any bones get broken?

Post a pic of what it looks like now, if you could.

[Flicktitty]

eek, man you weren't kidding. looks much better now.

[SpdRcrZ]

I'll get some current ones in the am.

I did break 2 bones, the pinky and ring, both at the base where they attach to the hand. My pinky "used" to be straight, now it has a bit of a hook to it.

I'm almost 100% positive that if my elbow had been a bit smaller, I would have lost my arm, at least at the elbow. I was VERY close to loosing my fingers as well. In the one pick you can see the end of my ring finger is messed up as well.... that split like a crushed grape. Any farther in, and my hand would have been "de-gloved" at the very least. Not a pretty thing to see (seen a guy who had that done, while in therapy. Looked like a bad burn victim)

[Lash]

Does that mean you should have bought an automatic GTO?

:goof

[michelle]

Wow, I am glad you are okay (for the most part) now. It's good to see the company got fined and hopefully fixed all the problems they had so it is safer for other employees.

[juicedimpss]

so you stuck your hand somewhere it shouldnt have been and you get a settlement for that?

[07ROUSHSTG3]

wow. could have been worse for sure.

[flyin_blue_egg]

as somebody that's seen his hand at all points in person, the pics don't do it justice. It was MUCH worse looking

[awsomeears]

WOW !

My grandpa worked and retired from the Journal ( I think 38 years ) and had one accident, his arm was taken in similar to yours but at that time he was Built pretty well and his arm was to large.

Well some of his arm muscles were pushed up and that was it, he was very lucky

[tommyt5078]

so you stuck your hand somewhere it shouldnt have been and you get a settlement for that?



Yes he will..........................A guy at my work did almost the same thing and his hand / palm looked like yours, I hope you get more then he got, which was 12,000.



Can you tell when the weather changes? When it's cold out is your hand colder?

[stenchmiester]

out of curiousity what printing company was it?

[SpdRcrZ]

so you stuck your hand somewhere it shouldnt have been and you get a settlement for that?

As dumb as it sounds, yes. HOWEVER, while common sense says to keep your hands out of places like this, I was only following my training, and sometimes you let your guard down after you've seen it done dozens of times w/o incident. I do feel stupid for my injury, part of the reason I still haven't seen a lawyer about it. OSHA's investigation put the blame on missing/faulty safety equipment, and improper training. In the 2 years that I was there after my accident, nothing changed. The "Emergency Stop" that I tried to use, is still nothing more then a "Coasting Stop". The only Emergency Stop is at the other end of the press...... No new Guards where put up, only hand written "Crush Zone" warnings where taped up.


Pics taken today, sorry for the crappy quality.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand28-13.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/SpeedRacerZ/Hand/Hand18-13.jpg

I'd rather not say the company's name, but their not really a "Printing Company", their in the "Plastic Bag making" industry.

[stenchmiester]

K just wondering cuz I worked for a place that did that stuff and I got screwed over

[TheRX7Project]

As someone who works in the printing industry, I've seen some pretty gruesome stuff. It's all too easy for your hands to get caught in the press or any other kind of equipment- and when they do, the outcome is NEVER pretty.

You're quite lucky that you kept your hand and all your fingers. You took the right action and didn't back the press out, like a lot of people think to do, and it saved your ass.

Glad to see you're healing up.

[94greenbandit]

Dude sorry to hear about that. At least you are happier now

[Reverend Cooper]

sorry to hear about what happened,but it looks like your very lucky to be in the shape you are. WOW is right

[lordairgtar]

Damn! I got my hand whacked in a hot stamper which is a device used to stamp numbers and letters on wire or cable. Even for something as small as 20 awg, it exerts over fifty pounds of pressure at a very fast rate.

[frank_zappa_is_dead]

I worked as a tool & die setter for a few years in the metal stamping industry I lost a finger tip when I was 18.Ive seen some gruesome shit happen. Dude all I can say was your damn lucky, and dont let pride get in the way of getting a lawyer its up to the company to properly train and make sure the machine is safe.But I was always like this I never never stuck my hand in or around any machine while its in operation it if jams or blows up the tooling so be it. Shut it down first and lock it out.I know in the printing press operation often times if you shut them down they like to jam on start up and then its a few hours to reset.Did they give you any flack for turning off the press to correct problems?

[Silver350]

I work at Quad Graphics and you sir are very lucky! There are guys here that lost limbs and even one person lost their life for sticking their parts in a machine While it is running. Heck even some people to this day stick their hands to pull out paper that is stuck and I never under stood why they just dont shut the machine down.

[SpdRcrZ]

Glad to see I'm not the only moron ;)

The owner of the company would give us hell anytime he saw the press was down. I was actually trying to bust ass that day because the 1st shift had a "mistake" that went unnoticed, and made our whole department look bad. Oh well, my accident had the press down for about 8 hours..... the remainder of my shift, and 1st shift had to clean everything up the next morning, plus there was no one for a few days to run 2nd shift.

I've heard, and seen, quite a few press injuries since then. To this day, I cant look at something moving and not get images in my head and get the shivers!

[lordairgtar]

Glad to see I'm not the only moron ;)

To this day, I cant look at something moving and not get images in my head and get the shivers!
We have a braiding machine at work and I just get visions of someone getting their hand caught in the spools of wire or nylon as it's whirling around.

[jakedrew]

ouch.

crazy to see them pictures.