Paper Cutter Accident Victim 
Still Recovering

COTATI, CA—An employee of Grafix Screen Printing who lost his right hand in an accident involving a paper cutter was fortunate to have it reattached at a local hospital, according to the Press Democrat. Lon Martinsen, 51, was in stable condition following the procedure, the paper reports, and has regained movement in his fingers.

Shop manager Michele Holman told the Press Democrat that although early reports on Martinsen's surgery were positive, it was too early to tell if the hand will be fully functional again. Holman said that Martinsen was cutting decals with a Dexter guillotine cutter at the time of the accident.

"It's a big electric one, and there's a foot pedal you have to step on to bring the guard down," Holman told the paper. "You have to use two hands to make the blade come down. No one's really sure how it happened."

The Press Democrat also reported that the paper cutter at Grafix Screen Printing did not have one of its protective guards. The machine was ordered shut down by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) until a protective device is installed. The 
paper quoted Holman as saying she hopes to replace the machine altogether.