Houston, TX — There was a major accident involving a construction worker this past Monday, August 25, in Houston. The news reports are saying that a construction worker was critically injured after a loose saw blade flung into his chest at a worksite.
The accident happened atop a building near The Galleria in Houston, and the worker was using a tool for cutting into metal and concrete. Not many details are available yet, but it appears that he was working with the tool when the saw blade came loose and impaled him in the chest.
Emergency workers immediately came to take the man to a hospital, where he had to have part of the blade removed. He was conscious on Monday, but there was no other word on his condition.
No names are being released yet and it’s not clear for whom the man was working when the accident happened.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
I’m not totally sure, but I think I know the tool this worker was using, it’s called an “angle grinder.” You can see from the picture below that it’s a free-spinning circular blade that can be use for hard-to-reach spots. There are different types of blade for an angle grinder, and all of them are very dangerous. If the blade isn’t tightened on, the force of the tool spinning the blade will send it flying off.
Now, I don’t know if this worker was using a guard on the blade – as the picture shows – but many workers choose to take the guard off for easier access to cutting materials. Since this is a legal blog, let’s talk for a minute about how the law would address this.
First, if this worker had workers’ comp insurance through his employer, then he would most likely have a claim to file. If there is no workers’ comp coverage – a.k.a., the employer is a “non-subscriber” – then it’s like any other situation and a lawsuit can be filed. However, that implies something was wrong, doesn’t it? Well, I think there might have been.
This blade should not have flown off, period. Someone was responsible for making sure the tools were in working order and it’s ultimately the employer’s responsibility to make sure their employers are using safe tools. I don’t know about you, but having a blade fly off mid-cut doesn’t exactly seem “safe.” I’m glad these injuries weren’t more serious, but it sounds like this employer has a hard lesson to learn about making sure their workers have safe, properly-working tools.
— Grossman Law Offices
