School Injury – Student Loses Fingers in Woodshop Class

This case involves an accident in a woodshop class. The plaintiff, a seventeen-year-old male, was a student at a large, urban, public school, and he participated in woodshop class. He was told to use a jointer machine, which is a machine that is designed to make a flat surface on one edge of a board. The machine, however, did not have push-pads / push sticks, guarding, or protection. On the day in question, the plaintiff was working on a piece of wood, when he slid the piece too far and injured his fingers. Subsequently, he lost the tips of three fingers (including finger joints/knuckles). Several days later, push sticks and push blocks were purchased and used in the class.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Should a school provide push pads/push sticks to children using jointers?

Expert Witness Response E-006245

We always have push sticks and push-pads available by our machines. In classroom settings, it is important to have these machine components. In addition to the added safety that these items provide, it is critical to teach the students how to use them in a controlled environment.