A FIREFIGHTER says he was moments away from “life-changing injuries” after slashing his leg with a chainsaw disc.
Simon Woodland, 51, of the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, suffered lacerations to his foot after using a disc incorrectly labeled as compatible with home angle grinders.
The father of two was off duty doing crafts at home in Aldwick when the chipper “backed up” and cut off his leg.
Simon said the incident could have ended his 23-year career in the fire service.
He said: “The disc backed up, which tore the tool out of my hand, sending it spinning on the ground while it was locked at full speed.
“I couldn’t believe it when the accident happened. I was wearing protective gear when the tool sliced my leg. It was a real shock and I was afraid to look down to see what injuries I had suffered.
“When I bought the product online, I had no idea it was not supposed to be on sale.
“The disc pierced my shoe all the way to my foot and I had painful cuts in my right shin.
“I have been using power tools for decades. But this product should never have been invented. It is dangerous and potentially fatal.
“I urge anyone who has them in their possession not to use them under any circumstances and return them for a full refund.”
West Sussex Trading Standards is carrying out urgent checks at county hardware stores over concerns that potentially fatal chainsaw disc attachments are being mis-sold for use with angle grinders.
Angle grinders are not designed for use with such accessories as they do not incorporate the safety features required for electric chainsaws.
Serrated-edged discs turn angle grinders into small hand-held chainsaws, but the two products are not designed to be used together and are likely to cause loss of control that could result in serious injury or death.
Peter Aston, team leader at West Sussex Trading Standards, said: “Simon’s experience should serve as a warning to construction industry workers, DIY enthusiasts and woodcarvers to stop using Chainsaw discs sold as accessories for angle grinders.
“These products are dangerous and can cause injury from the kickback caused by the chainsaw gripping the cutting surface and causing the angle grinder to turn sharply or jump out of the operator’s hand.
“We have contacted stores in the county that may have these items for sale, but we believe they were mostly sold online by overseas sellers. So far, we have not found any for sale by online sellers in the county.
“Any company that sells these chainsaw discs as accessories for angle grinders must immediately withdraw them from the market because they do not comply with the 2008 Machine Supply (Safety) Regulations for the machine. It must also organize a recall for products already sold. ”
Duncan Crow, a member of the West Sussex County Council Cabinet for Community Support and Fire and Rescue, said: “Anyone who has these angle grinder attachments in their possession is urged to stop using them immediately.
“They should contact the seller for a refund if they believe the product has been mistakenly marketed as compatible with an angle grinder.”
If you have seen these attachments for sale in the county, you can notify Trading Standards by calling 0808 2231133 or at www.westsussex.gov.uk/tsreport
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-27 04:30:00
