A worker sustained a serious laceration to the left hand and thumb when a battery-powered cutting tool kicked back during vegetation clearing around an air-conditioning unit. The worker held a branch with one hand and operated the tool with the other.
As the blade engaged the branch, it bound and kicked back into the worker’s hand. The blade cut through the glove and into the hand, while the glove partially stalled the tool and reduced injury severity. The worker used one-handed operation and placed the hand directly in the cutting path.
The incident shows how incorrect tool selection and poor positioning expose workers to kickback and line-of-fire hazards. It demonstrates how quickly routine tasks escalate when workers do not maintain control of cutting tools or keep hands clear of moving blades.
The battery-powered cutting tool
Takeaways
- Select suitable tools: Use equipment designed for vegetation cutting instead of powered cutting blades where practicable.
- Maintain control: Operate tools with both hands and ensure all handles remain fitted and functional.
- Assess tasks: Identify hazards, exposure points and safer methods before starting work.
- Position safely: Keep hands and body parts outside cutting paths at all times.
- Plan work: Schedule vegetation maintenance to reduce the need for reactive clearing.
- Apply higher-order controls: Do not rely on personal protective equipment as the primary means of protection.
