A prospective study of angle grinder injuries in the hands and forearms during a one-year period.

Angle grinders are powerful tools used for cutting, shaving and polishing metal, stone, concrete and many hard surfaces in the work and hobby context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute hand injuries caused by angle grinders and to identify risk factors. Out of 742 acute hand and forearm injuries presenting in our emergency department between March 2016 and March 2017, 82 cases of injury due to angle grinder were included in the study. The age, gender, occupation, experience and education level of the injured patients were recorded. In addition, the location, mechanism, time of day, cigarette or alcohol use and occupational cases were determined. The Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) was used to determine the injury severity. The vast majority of injuries (except 8) were not occupational injuries. They often occurred when individuals were using this tool outside of a work context (home, etc.); 44% of the patients were retired. There were more injuries between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm. The mean overall MHISS score of was 74 (2-330). These angle grinder injuries, many of which are severe, are difficult to treat and the resulting disability is high. Many factors, such as smoking, age and time of day contribute to these injuries. Precautions should be taken and safety training should be provided for this powerful tool which is widely used and easy to obtain.

Observation of the ß-delayed γ-proton decay of (56)Zn and its impact on the Gamow-Teller strength evaluation.

We report the observation of a very exotic decay mode at the proton drip line, the ß-delayed γ-proton decay, clearly seen in the ß decay of the T_{z}=-2 nucleus ^{56}Zn. Three γ-proton sequences have been observed after the ß decay. Here this decay mode, already observed in the sd shell, is seen for the first time in the fp shell. Both γ and proton decays have been taken into account in the estimation of the Fermi and Gamow-Teller strengths. Evidence for fragmentation of the Fermi strength due to strong isospin mixing is found.

Evaluation of the risk factors for acute occupational hand injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of demographic and occupational factors on the severity of the acute occupational hand injuries. METHODS: Patients with acute hand injuries presenting to the emergency department of the Ege university hospital between 01.08.2008 and 27.02.2009 were included. A questionnaire investigating demographic and occupational factors of the patients and their injuries was filled out for each patient. Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) was used to assess the severity of the injury. RESULTS: A total of 144 subjects were included. Forty-three patients had occupational hand injuries. Age at injury, occupation, and main earning status did not alter the MHISS score significantly. Also, the mechanism of injury, occupational experience, timing of the injury, glove use, safety training did not have a significant effect on the injury severity. The injury pattern was found to have a statistically significant effect on the MHISS score. CONCLUSION: The potentially modifiable factors such as the working conditions, safety training and use of gloves are important in the etiology of occupational acute hand injury. Most probably, in this study the size of the sample was not large enough to be able to demonstrate any relation between these and the injury severity. However, attempts to modify these factors by various strategies may reduce the incidence of acute hand injury at work. Precautions and widespread educational programs can prevent occupational acute hand injury.