Abstract: Some rectangular wire basket parts made of wire had been welded together and had ended up with burrs near one end. To remove the burrs, the company had installed a flattening die in a partial-revolution mechanical power press. The press had two nonfunctioning hand controls and lacked a guard to protect the operator from the gap between the dies. Employee #1 was holding each piece by the end in both hands, with a hand on either side of the die. He operated the foot pedal of the press, striking each piece four times as he turned it to hit the burr. The end of his left forefinger became caught between the dies, and his fingertip was crushed as the die came down. He was hospitalized.