As some may recall, I recently started working for Boeing in Renton WA as a CNC repair technician. I've been assigned to wing riveters kind of like this one.
Broetje-Automation: WPAC
Sorry about the pic, best I could do.
We were out on the machine swapping out a tool for a test fixture to align a camera. I hadn't ever done it before, and was being trained. One of the techs had his hand gripping the tool waiting for the other to command the machine to release it. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but the machine shuttled, swapping out the tool we were removing for another tool. It happened in the blink of an eye, it pulled the technician into the machine and damn near severed his hand!
If anyone who reads this works around automated equipment, take a minute and think about what you are doing and where you are putting your paws.
All in takes is a split second lapse in judgement or a mistake by you or someone else to change your life profoundly.
It sounds like they are able to pin his hand back together and sew him up, but it'll never be right again. He might be back on light duty in a couple of months...
Scary gruesome stuff!