Abstract: Employee #1, a carpenter, was using a Milwaukee portable power saw to cut a 20 in. by 30 in. piece of 3/4 in. plywood. He was using two 2 by 4s to support the smaller side of the work piece as he cut off the larger side. He was nearing the end of the cut when the larger side sagged down, and the saw started to buck and kick back. Employee #1 later stated that he released the trigger, but the saw kept running. He then tried to force the saw through the cut, but the saw kicked back and up across plywood. It contacted the back of his left hand between the thumb and index finger, nearly severing his thumb. The bucking and kick back caused the sticking trigger to release, and the saw stopped. This saw had no history of trigger problems, but the trigger was still malfunctioning when later inspected.