Abstract: On October 22, 1992, Employee #1, the tool and die supervisor for Valley Industries, was building a pneumatically operated tool that would clinch a nylon sleeve on a 1/8 in. steel wire, making a loop at one end and cutting it to length at the other. This assembly is used for the latch on spare tire carriers. The machine or tool is pneumatically operated by a 2 1/2 in. diameter cylinder that pushes a block through a channel and activates the clinching and cutting operation. Employee #1 had his left middle finger in the way when he activated the device. His finger was cut, but no bone loss was suffered. No safety violation was cited.