A Tragic Lesson

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:01 pm

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/04/13/news/doc4da58c22c4b1f135149346.txt

Loose hair, jewelry, clothing does NOT belong anywhere near machinery!

spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:06 pm

Sadly true, but what is interesting is that she died from her hair being pulled in. Normally, that would just scalp you and you have a nasty scar. I wonder what happened here?

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:43 pm

More importantly, what's a wood lathe doing in a chemistry lab?

BPR

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:54 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:More importantly, what's a wood lathe doing in a chemistry lab?
BPR

It was a 'metal' lathe, and was in the basement shop area.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:20 pm

All;
I read the article in the NHR and was reminded of the Osorio vs Ryobi case.
Rules broken
#1 Long Hair
#2 loose jewelry
#3 loose clothing
Additional rules broken
a. no buddy system
b. working tired (2:30 AM)
How long is it going to take for supervisors, especially at the University level to realize that these machines are DANGEROUS and not to be taken lightly. A buddy, even someone that does not know machinery, would be able to trip a master switch and call 911 for help.
We have a woodworking club in our community and we have some standing rules.
1. No machinery is to be used unless two people are in the shop. The second does not have to be a woodworker but is only there as a safety measure so that if something happens they can give first aid or turn a switch off.
2. An operating cell phone is to be on site whenever power equipment is in use due to the fact that the shop is in a remote area of the development and regular phone service is not available to the building.
I wonder how much this will cost the lathe manufacturer and/or the university. Sorry for the rant.

Bill V

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:54 am

spiderclimber wrote:Sadly true, but what is interesting is that she died from her hair being pulled in. Normally, that would just scalp you and you have a nasty scar. I wonder what happened here?

Says she was axphixiated by throat compression. One could surmise either it was across her throat, or her throat was pressed up against something.

spiderclimber · Post by **spiderclimber** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:25 pm

huh, Well, knowing how fast a lathe spins normally, I figured it would just pull the hair right out. Sad story for sure and teaches an unfortunate lesson in safety around machinery.

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:11 pm

Metal lathes don't spin anywhere near as fast as the wood lathes do. They also tend to stall easier. Get playing with a 6" Atlas lathe with its leather drive belt, and I can see this happening quite easily.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:57 pm

foxtrapper wrote:Metal lathes don't spin anywhere near as fast as the wood lathes do. They also tend to stall easier. Get playing with a 6" Atlas lathe with its leather drive belt, and I can see this happening quite easily.

Stall with continuous torque being applied!

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:32 pm

Just a terrible accident that could easily have been averted if common sense safety rules had been followed. I don't think the lathe manufacturer should be liable at all. The university however should bear the full blame for allowing students to be working in the shop after hours ALONE! I would think the family will probably sue the university and it will be settled out of court quietly as Yale University definitely does not want any negative publicity surrounding this horrific accident.