FACTS
- Construction workers and homeowners alike use various types of power tools to complete a wide range of tasks that they would not be able to do with a regular hand tool. Many of these tools are very powerful and have extremely sharp blades or points that can cause serious injuries.
- Chain saws that are commonly used to cut down trees and cut up large branches can cause serious cuts and lacerations to arms and legs when they kickback, pushback or pull-in.
- A defective circular saw can cause severe injuries to the hands, fingers, arms, legs, and amputations.
- Power drills that are run by electrical cords or battery packs can cause serious puncture wounds.
- Lawnmowers use sharp blades to cut grass. Common injuries associated with defective lawnmowers include cuts, lacerations, and amputations from rotating blades.
STATS
- According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 960,000 people are injured, and another 200 are killed each year in accidents involving power tools.
- According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) more than 400,000 emergency room visits each year can be attributed to accidents involving power tools.
- Work tools can be dangerous to use. They can result in serious work-related injuries, and in some cases, death. Below are some work tools accident statistics that were compiled from various sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and OSHA.
- The incident rate for non-fatal injuries at worked due to contact with objects or work equipment was 25.5 cases for every 10,000 workers.
- Contact with objects or equipment accounted for 712 deaths in all industries.
- Around 6% of all workplaces fatal injuries are directly caused by electrocution (this is for companies employing 11+ workers).