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JICOSH Home > Case Studies > Case No.73
Case No.73

Fatal blood loss after cutting the femoral artery by a portable circular saw at a construction site for shield work
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[Description of the Accident]

This accident occurred during work to remodel the equipment (hopper) to remove excavated sand and earth during underground shield work.

Excavated sand and earth is transported by a belt conveyer to a hopper located on the surface, and from there is then transported to a landfill site by truck.

As sand and earth is often scattered outside the hopper during the filling process, it was decided to cover part of the hopper other than the opening by a wooden lid. The victim was assigned to this work.

While the victim was cutting a wooden board by using a portable circular saw to construct the lid, he accidentally cut his right femoral region and started to bleed heavily.

Although the foreman and other co-workers who saw the accident sent the victim to the hospital by ambulance, he died of hemorrhagic shock due to severe bleeding from the severed femoral artery.
[Causes supposed]

1.The blade guard of the portable saw was blocked open.

2. The victim was in an unstable posture, as he had put his foot on the belt conveyer when he was cutting the board.

3. Work control was not appropriately implemented as work instructions were given by the foreman of the primary subcontractor although the victim was an employee of the secondary subcontractor.
[Type of business] Water and sewerage work
[Caused by] Wood processing machine
[Type of accident] Cut and abrasions
[Number of victims] One fatality
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