SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Stopped working / malfunction

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20230722-0FC7E-2147346282. Severity: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received. Product: Festool Track Saw TS55 FEQ-F-Plus Festool Track Saw TS55 FEQ-F-Plus (Festool Track Saw, model TS 55 FEQ-F-Plus (No. 576708)). Incident: I am writing to report a serious safety incident that occurred while using a Festool Track Saw, model TS 55 FEQ-F-Plus (No. 576708), on July 8th, 2023. During the use of the tool to trim the edge of a door, a malfunction occurred, which resulted in a dangerous situation leading to severe personal injury. Description of Incident: At the time of the incident, I was using the Festool Track Saw as intended to make a cut along the edge of a door. While the tool was in operation, an unexpected issue arose (a resistance in the tool), causing me to remove the saw toward the top of the guide rail. However, the plunge mechanism did not self-retract, leaving the saw blade fully exposed. Subsequently, a kickback occurred, causing the exposed blade to accelerate backwards, resulting in a partial amputation of two fingers on my left hand. Contributing Factors: Tool Safety Malfunction: It appears that the malfunction may have originated from the tool's motor, the plunge mechanism or the viewing window, leading to the failure of the automatic blade retraction and exposing the blade during operation. Kickback Risk: The unexpected blade exposure and subsequent kickback put the operator at a high risk of serious injury, as was evident in my case. Injuries Incurred: The incident resulted in the partial amputation of two fingers on my left hand, which required immediate medical attention and subsequent treatment. Actions Taken: Following the accident, I sought immediate medical attention at [REDACTED] Hospital (Atlanta, GA), where my injuries were assessed and treated by medical professionals.