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2008 January Slush
(UL)Roping A Deer
(Hmmm)Tiger, not lion, kills 1, injurs 2
(DA)Pulled into the abyss
(?)Rich and Overconfident
(Hmm)White Spirit IS Flammable
(?)VA Man Shot to Death While Beating
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(?)Had big balls.
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(?)Un-happy slapper
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(DA)Not a Shred of Sense
Conveyor belt outlasts runner
Rafts, Rivers, Cement and Bridges
(HM)Home Made IED
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Auger to Heaven
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MANS BEST FRIEND???
Fire up the BBQ !
Holy Flaming DOH!
gangsta guns & fireworks don't mix
Skier dies after triggering avalanc
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(DA)A series of Im-Pined Events
Picnic Lunch
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The Faster Method
Miami of Ohio University...
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Is half a Darwin better then none?
highway worker nearly earns award
Reverse Mohawk
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Do Tell
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Next Time Buy a Ticket!
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
1 shoot closes slaying case
When Couch Potatoes Take Root.
Men shoot themselves in tattoo atte
Making Deadly Gas at Home
German man goes out with X-mas Tree
Kinky Sex, Shocking Death
vodka+viagra death
Explosive Military Intelligence
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Go Get the Lawnmower
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They Ain't no Bo and Luke Duke!
The Blue - Handed Pikeman
Driver found unbuckled in crash, bu
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
He now hates that 'Tom Tom' GPS!!!
A Crocodile Poacher gets scrambled.
Bare hand versus table saw
Drunken Phone Repair
Knife thief stabs self during getaw
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Strong finger for firing a pistol
unsuccessful robber shoots self in
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Abused car strikes back
Goat Overcomes Man
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New years Nose Ring In Brain
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Listen to your parents!
Run over getting the bins in
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Bare hand versus table saw

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

The Oregon Supreme Court opinion is here:

http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/S43476.htm

"Experienced" maintenance mechanic finds a new table saw that he is not familiar with, but decides to see if it needs maintenance. He knows it must have an on/off switch somewhere, but cannot locate one. The blade is below the table, so he can't see if it's spinning. To check to see if it is on, he listens, but doesn't hear anything. He the puts his hand on the table to feel for any vibration, but doesn't feel any. If he truly was "experienced" he would know that quality industrial machinery of this type will run very smoothly and quietly.

At this point he decides it must not be running, so he squats down to open the maintenance door on the front of the saw. He opens the door and peeks in, shining a flashlight inside to get a better look. His foot slips on some sawdust and his right hand goes into the cabinet, coming into contact with - the spinning blade of the saw. Partially amputated his right hand.

Submitted on 01/03/2008

Submitted by: Bill Taggart
Reference: Hernandez v. Barbo Machinery Co., March 4, 1997

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
The only way you become experienced is by learning, and this guy sure did learn a lesson the hard way. Thanks, Bill!


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Dufus mechanic, Honorable Mention gladly bestowed. On the one hand (pun intended) he was able to sue, costing the manufacturer untold dollars to defend, and successfully appealed the verdict which stated he was at greater fault which will lead to more expense of a second trial. Such is our litigious society. Thanks for the story, Bill


Darwin Awards II: Unnatural Selection

Hardback. 240 pages. Autographed.
$15
A fresh collection of magnificent misadventures! Lust, Vanity, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Envy, and Wrath extract an evolutionary toll on the wicked. Salute the owner of an equipment training school who demonstrates the dangers of driving a forklift by failing to survive the filming of his own safety video. Witness the man who becomes a victim of his own strange passion for jumping into rivers. Heed the honest bricklayer who loses a battle of wits with 300 pounds of tools.

This book includes more History of the Awards, Gordon's Law, and 10 discussions of evolution, including speciation and the role of verbal memes in civilization.

Autographed by Author!

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