Abstract: At about 10:17 a.m. on February 13, 1991, Employee #1 was polishing a commutator in a lathe machine with an emery cloth; he was holding an end of the cloth in each hand. The cloth and one of Employee #1's thumbs got caught in the lathe. According to different reports from the fire department, the employer, and the two doctors who examined/treated Employee #1, his left or right thumb was either lacerated, amputated, or partially amputated. Employee #1 had no phone, and a "For Sale" sign was found at his residence. The employer speculated that Employee #1 went back to El Salvador. There was no evidence of a serious injury or violation.