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[Accidents on circular bench saws (author's transl)]
Zeitschrift Fur Rechtsmedizin. Journal of Legal Medicine
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Forearm severance by circular saw occurs rapidly (40-80 ms), requiring less impulse than a person falling. Existing accident data in literature is inaccurate.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Biomechanics
- Accident Reconstruction
Context:
- Expert opinion required for a legal case involving suspected self-mutilation.
- Physical data from a circular saw bench accident was analyzed.
- Discrepancies noted between observed data and existing scientific literature.
Purpose:
- To investigate the physical data of a circular saw accident.
- To determine the time and impulse required for forearm severance.
- To compare findings with standard time data in scientific literature.
Summary:
- Severing a 6 cm diameter human forearm requires 40-80 milliseconds, contingent on feeding power.
- The necessary impulse (13-15 Ns) is significantly lower than that generated by a falling person.
- Standard time data for such accidents in scientific literature is deemed excessively high.
Impact:
- Provides accurate biomechanical data for legal and forensic investigations.
- Challenges and corrects existing scientific literature on accident timelines.
- Aids in differentiating accidental injuries from self-inflicted harm.