Between the hammer and the anvil: An unusual power hammer fatality.
autopsy
discharged flying object
forensic pathology
high‐mass penetrating injury
power hammer
safety protocol
work‐related fatality
Journal
Journal of forensic sciences
ISSN: 1556-4029
Titre abrégé: J Forensic Sci
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0375370
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Apr 2024
04 Apr 2024
Historique:
revised:
26
03
2024
received:
19
01
2024
accepted:
27
03
2024
medline:
4
4
2024
pubmed:
4
4
2024
entrez:
4
4
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Power hammers are mechanised forging devices that constitute a pivotal part of steel manufacturing. Power hammer-associated injuries are a rare occurrence. We report a noteworthy case of a 52-year-old man who sustained a high-energy penetrating injury while working with a power (counterblow) hammer. The man used a sizable disc-shaped metallic object to dislodge the forging wedged in the machine by applying the force of the striking ram on it. On impact, the object ejected and struck the man in the right lateral portion of the chest. The autopsy disclosed extensive damage to the thoracic and abdominal organs. The cause of death was opined to be exsanguination due to penetrating trauma of the heart and transection of the descending aorta. The investigation confirmed a breach of safety regulations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first power (counterblow) hammer-related fatality in medico-legal literature.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38572827
doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15521
doi:
Types de publication
Case Reports
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2024 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
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