Abstract: At 7:30 p.m. on February 28, 1993, Employee #1 was attempting to grind a piece of 1 in. by 1/4 in. by 6 in. flat stock on a bench grinder. Just as he began grinding the stock, his gloved hand was pulled downward between the tool rest and the abrasive wheel, causing the tool rest to break apart. When he took his glove off he saw that the flesh had been peeled from his left thumb tip, apparently from getting pinched between the tool rest and the flat stock. He was taken by his supervisor to Colesa Hospital where he was treated and released. He underwent surgery two days later at Gridley Hospital, where a portion of the bone was removed to repair the wound. As of this date, Employee #1 is still off work and has had about 1/2 in. of his left thumb amputated.