Accidents.fp3

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The drill press was equiped with a devise by Blum called the mini-press. It is asmaller version of the machine used for drilling cabinet door hinges. The accidentoccured when sweeping away shavings without the guard in place. Due to thenature of the drill bits which rotate in opposite directions, my hand was grabbed andthen rotated between the cutters. Once lodged, there was no way to remove myhand without removing the bits. I was lucky, there was someone there to help andthe cutters missed the bones. It required a couple dozen stitches, but otherwise nodamage.
Always leave the guards, at least on this particular machine, in place.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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This has happened more than once, I'm ashamed to say. The accident is thinkingthat my grip on a small or roundish shaped piece is greater than the torque exertedby the bit via the drill press. I've had my hand smacked several times, once (and thelast time, knock on wood) very hard, thought it was broken or even worse till I couldlook.
Always clamp those small pieces and especially the awkward ones that cannoteasily be clamped. Find a way even if you have to glue it to a scrap board. All myclose calls have been on the drill press because I somwhow think of it as beingbenign.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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When I was about 12 years old, I was drilling a hole through a piece of 16 ga sheetmetal that was about 3 inches long and 3/8" wide. Like an idiot, I was holding themetal strip in my left hand while operating the drill press with my right. As the drillwas passing through the metal at the end of the cut, the drill caught the metal andinstantly spun the metal strip at the same speed as the drill. Before I could react,the spinning metal hacked into my left hand several times. Mainly removed a lot ofskin.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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I was drilling a whole in a terminal on a battery cable. The hole in the cable was notbig enough to fit my battery. I made the mistake of not properly anchoring the cableto the drill press table. The drill bit caught in the cable terminal and almost wrapedby entire hand into the cable. The end of the cable also struck my head. I wasluckey only to receive a large cut to my right hand.
Sometimes the most inocuous tasks are the most dangerous. I now always respectEVERY tool in the shop. Not just the ones with obvious dangers.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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I was using a circle cutter to cut a disc out of some thin sheet brass.I had one cclamp holding the work in place. I had completed the cut and was reaching up toturn off the machine when the cutter grabbed the sheet and started turning it.Thesheet caught the top of my ring finger and sliced up to the second knuckle. Thedoctor said if I was going to cut myself it was the best place to do it. It took about ayear before I could wear my ring again.
Make sure that your work is well mounted. Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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This doesn't pertain particularly to wood workers but it's still something that couldhappen on any drill press. About ten years ago I was drilling pin holes into theheads of allen screws for safety wire. I was using a machine vice not clamped to thetable. After completing about ten holes I reached over to the vise and pulled thefinished screw out. . While mounting the next one (the drill press was still running)the return spring on the drill press decided to give up the ghost and dropped thedrill bit into my first knuckel. Being caught by the pin drill (probably an 1/8" or lessmy natural reaction was to pull my finger out. The result was I split my finger nail inhalf perminently sustained nerve damage in my finger tip and dragged the drill bitacross the bone to the end of my finger.
I was lucky. The joint in my finger was uneffected. Never work directly under aspinning drill bit and better yet turn off the drill press when reloading.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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I was at school using the drill press when my tie got caught in the drill press. It allhappened so fast that before i knew it i was face to face with the drill . My teachergot at the emegency stop just in time Keep all loose items or things that could get snagged tucked away or pinned up Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Placed a 17" long used wood boring bit into the chuck to attempt to drill through12.5" thick glue lam. After supporting the glue lam and turning on the press (properRPM, all safety precautions taken) and preparing to enter the wood, the bit bent 90degrees just an inch under the chuck, where the bit met the shank. The bit whippedaround several times before I could shut it down, and in the ensuing adrenalinerush I had not noticed that the tip of the bit had ripped a rather large hole in myshirt and left a nasty deep scratch across my chest and sternum. The bit had beenlent to a "friend" and came back seemingly in fine shape. I suspect that it had beenbent, and then bent back straight. It worked just fine for several hundredrevolutions while I fine tuned my setup, and was nowhere near contact with woodwhen it decided to bend. It is a bit of a mystery to me exactly what caused this.
I would advise woodworkers to: (1) Never loan tools (2) Never becomecomplacent about safety, I was convinced that I had taken all of the "necessary"precautions, but clearly I had not (3) Never get into a situation where you arewondering about the limitations of the equipment. if there is even a question about"Can this be done?" you probably have no business trying.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Injury Severity
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About a week after getting a drill press: Drilling a 3/8" hole through a piece of 8"x2"Lexan. The bit caught the material and the piece of Lexan went one revolution at800 RPM before ripping it's way into my thumb. Probably could have used a fewstitches but I survived.
I learned the hard way to clamp EVERYTHING on to the drill press table. If you'rereading this: that would be the easy way.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Nearly lost my right eye for the 3rd time in my life. Another worker was on the drillpress while I was sitting at a belt sander to his left-face about deadlevel with thedrill, me taking a known chance but thinking, "I have regular glasses on - no sideprotection though, but what are the chances? Too much, at least 1 in 360 dcegrees!Sure enough, other guy jams his bit into his workpiece, has to let go as it startsspinning and than THAK! Broken off drill bit and all slams into the wall somewhere.
Never rely on excuses.If you don't have safety gear or a safe workplace, stop, orquit, you can't work that way. Never take chances. Watch out for any possibledangers that have been overlooked.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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While using one of those multiple hole saws (cheap one), the saw portion explodedand the saw whipped around and cut the end of my finger. Luckily, I had my safetygear on and was only slightly wounded. No stitches.
Don't use cheap tools and keep a safe distance from them. Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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I was drilling 1/4" holes though a large number of 4" x 4" x 4" blocks of wood. I hada clamping-positioning jig on the table, and was using a 16" drill bit with the pressset to the lowest speed. After having completed many cycles successfully, I startedto bear down on the press too hard. The bit acted like a screw, and pulled the blockup out of the jig half way up the bit leaving 3" of bit sticking out the bottom of theblock. Since the hole was not in the center of the block, the centrifugal force causedthe bit to bend and flail. The bent bit and the block made about one rotation andthan pinned themselves against the main support column of the press. The flailingbit cut through my heavy flannel shirt and my T-shirt and gave me a one foot long,amazingly shallow scratch across my belly. A corner of the block hit the back of myhand resulting in four stitches.
Don't force any tool. Always have hold down clamps as well as positioning clampswhen drilling small parts. Never run a long drill bit in a drill press at high RPMs.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Experience
Injury Severity
Description
Instead of using a saw to cut a half-circle shape in the end of a 1/4" thick piece ofpurpleheart, I decided to use the drill press for a more accurate cut. I chucked a 2"diameter forstner bit and proceeded to make the cut. I knew the bit would want tograb the thin board, so I made sure I held it extra tight with my left hand. Itgrabbed anyway. I was holding it so tight that my thumb went with it before I couldreact. The large cutting corner of the bit dug in from the first knuckle, through thenail and off the left side. It was not as painful as a hammer smash. 19 stiches wererequired to close the wound.
Never use body parts as clamps or hold downs. Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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I was dismanteling a 17" floor type drill press to move it from my father's house tomy sister's in another state. I needed to remove the head assembly. I told mynephew to loosen the bolts on one side while I removed the auxilary table andraised the drill table; he did what I asked . the drill head assembly fell 2' andpunctured my hand with the closed 3/4" chuck jaws and trapped the hand betweenthe rim and hole on the auxilary table. OUCH!!! The point of impact was betweenthe bones of the thumb and first finger and the auxilary table provided some give sothe head (130lbs) did not puncture the hand all the way through AND did not crushthe tissue. The resulting wound was 1" deep and the thumb knuckle was bruisedon the bone. Too deep for stitches, antibiotic ointment was applied, a dressing, andtape.
This happened three days after my father's death. Think though EVERY stepespecially when you are under stress. You may "feel" alright but you NEED to slowdown. Two other subsequent minor injuries within two weeks have convinced methat I am STILL distracted enough to need to slow down and be MORE aware ofwhat I am doing.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Although this did not happen to me, I was working next to the person. She wasusing a holesaw mounted in a drill press to drill inlet holes in brass radiator tanks.
She noticed that the brass plugs were staying up in the hole saw after the cut.
Wanting to remove the brass plugs, and as the machine was running, she startedswatting at it with her hand trying to knock the piece out. When she did so, herright work glove (cotton) got caught on the holesaw which wrapped her the back ofher hand around the spindle. She broke her wrist and was on medical leave forseveral months.
Do not wear gloves while operating a drill press. Also restrain long hair and looseclothing. They can all easily become entangled in the bit. If you want to clear anydebris out of the bit, power the machine down and wait for the spindle to come to acomplete stop.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Experience
Injury Severity
Description
I was holding onto a turned piece of oak. then i proceeded to try and drill a hole inthis piece. I did not even graduate the bits to the correct size. 3/8" new bit. I figureafter it grabbed the wood it spun in my grip about 3 times less than needed to startflames. about 13 rev's right now it hurts like heck I have 4 very proud burn marks. Iam very dissapointed with myself. Total stupidity, at least the wood did not breakand the bit end up; Gawd I'll stop there.
YOU KNOW You Know you are not suppose to; so Don't. I did not even try using aglove. If you forgot to drill a hole and nothing you can do to drill the hole withoutbreaking the piece think of another use and make another one. sheesh I cannotbelieve I tried it. Ouch! Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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A student was operating a drill press when the chuck key fell from its resting pointon top of the machine. She was startled but no injury-accident occured.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Just came from shop having had a small accident from what can be the mostdangerous shop tool - the drill press. I had installed and was using a 3" drumsander. As I was sanding with it very lightly, I saw the sander start to wobble. Itwas clear that the chuck had loosened. In the time it took me to move hand toON-OFF switch, the drum went into orbit, forcefully. Thankfully, my hands werealready clear. Its trajectory slammed one hand, but no real injury. I havent yetfound the drum. As I have said before, the DP and other "safe" machines, arewaiting for their turn to get you. There is a lot of rivalry between shop tools. I thinkthey spend much of their downtime discussing who gets next shot at me.
Beware of tools that do not pose a threat. Drill press can really spin things.notalways the way you want them to spin. Be cautious with it.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Experience
Injury Severity
Description
Drilling 1" hole on edge of oak board using "spade" or "speed" type bit, holdingpiece down with left hand. Bit caught on edge of board and pulled board (with myhand still holding it) towards bit. Rotating bit took 1/8" off end of thumb.
CLAMP IT DOWN! Don't use a spade bit near edge of stock. Oh, and CLAMP ITDOWN! Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Made a chisel rack - small hole stepped up into larger hole, a slot into them for thechisel to be slid into and out of the rack. Wanted to enlarge the holes toaccomodate some new butt chisels. Removed the part of the rack with the holes(the rack being put together with finger-box joints and not glued together) and tookit and a piece of backer board scrap to the drill press. Clamped the part and thebacker board in a machinist vise, positioned the first hole under a forstner bit andclamped the machinest vise to the drill press table. The edge of the slot for gettinga chisel into and out of the rack caught the bottom cutting part of the forstner bit.
Since the bit couldn't cut off that much wood in one bite something had to give. The15-20 pound machinist vise AND the clamps holding it to the drill press table werewhat gave - as well as the shaft on the forstner bit. Threw the vise into an adjacentwall, bounced the piece I was drilling off another wall and I still haven't found themissing chunk out of the part. The bit now has a 10 degree bend in it. Had I beenin the line of fire the vise would've caught me in the chest or neck (my drill presstable is at chest height -easier to see things). Had I been trying to hold the vise inposition my wrist and or fingers would probably been broken. Fortunately I'dchanged the pulleys for a "slow speed" but that doesn't do anything to reduce thetorque, just gives a fraction of a second more reaction room.
For bits over half an inch, use slow speed, clamp the part down AND start with avery very light cut.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
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Experience
Injury Severity
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I was trying to CounterBore some holes in some small oak blocks. Three bigproblems were stacked against me.
1. I didn't own a reall drill press, just a drill press stand that you clamp a drill into.
2. The DP stand didn't have a table to it so it was impossible, or so I thought, toclamp the part down, this meant holding the part with my Left hand.
3. The drill I used in the stand had a locking trigger, but would only lock at topspeed, 2300 RPM. I had also screwed up and drilled the thru hole first and wasusing a regular drill bit to make the Counter Bore. The first one worked wellenough, but on the second one, as I slowly lowered the bit, it suddenly grabbed thepart from my left hand and spun it around at the same 2300 RPM. The blocksmacked my left thumb twice before I could pull my hand away, and then I still hadto turn the thing off by pulling and releasing the trigger. My thumb had a small cutabove the knuckle and a big knot, and my thumbnail was slightly brusied. I waslucky. It could have been much worse.
1. If you are Counter Boring or any procedure that remotely requires a Drill Press,use a REAL Drill Pess. I chucked that Sears POS that day. If you don't have one,beg borrow steal or change your design.
2. Use the right bit for the job. I went out that day and bought a set of forsner bits.
3. ALWAYS CLAMP YOUR PARTS! 4. A fence can also help when doing this type ofoperation. 5. Keep your hands away from the sharp parts.
Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved
Tool Type
Experience
Injury Severity
Description
Drilling 54mm holes with saw-tooth forstner in 200x150 while holding it with hands,did about 20 pieces fine, then the bit caught spun the wood around and took achunk out of my thumb clamp when drilling small pieces of timber or using large drill bits Woodworker's Central Accident Survey, All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.woodworking.org/AccidentSurvey/Drill_Press.pdf