Abstract: At approximately 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 2006, Employee #1 was working for Certified Precision Welding, a small welding and metal fabrication shop. Employee #1 was asked to fabricate a steel sink strainer. The company had purchased a used press brake (Chicago Dreis & Krump Number 3, 25 ton, mechanical, Model Number 265, Serial Number L 20738), which was going to be used for the first time for this task. After attaching a die that he made, the employee fabricated a sample strainer out of aluminum instead of stainless steel. He showed the sample strainer to the customer and received approval to continue. Before making the actual strainer the employee wanted to make a practice one with stainless steel. He found a small piece of stainless steel (approximately 8-in. by 7-in.) in the shop. He made the first bend and turned the part over to make a second bend. Holding the sides of the small part with both index fingers, he pressed the foot pedal to activate the press brake. At the same time, the part slipped from his hold. The employee reacted by reaching into the point of operation with his index fingers to grab the part. The die came down and amputated his index fingers. Employee #1 was hospitalized. This press brake was not guarded to either restrain the operator from inadvertently reaching into the point of operation, inhibit machine operation if the operator's hand or hands were inadvertently placed within the point of operation, or automatically withdraw the operator's hands if they were inadvertently within the point of operation.