This happened back in 2012. As a young HSE specialist at the time, having worked in the position for only six months, I had to participate in the investigation of an unusual accident.
Electrical maintenance technicians Andrey and Rustem were assigned by their supervisor to the compressor shop to service electric motors. The shop was filled with a constant roar from numerous running motors. They disconnected motor No. 3, which was scheduled for maintenance, from the wall-mounted switch and decided to go outside for a cigarette before starting work. After smoking and returning inside, Andrey began taking tools out of his bag, while Rustem took off his work jacket and hung it on the switch handle. They decided to first remove the cooling fan shroud, and Rustem, taking a screwdriver from Andrey, approached motor No. 3. However, neither of them noticed that the weight of the jacket had flipped the switch back on before falling to the floor. The motor started running. Due to the high rotation speed of the impeller and the noise from the other operating motors, it was not obvious whether this motor was running. Completely certain that the motor was off, Rustem crouched in front of it, holding a screwdriver in his right hand. He grabbed the fan shroud with his left hand, and his index finger, slipping into the air vent, was immediately severed by the rotating impeller. Andrey heard a terrifying scream that drowned out the noise of the running motors and, turning around, saw his partner rolling on the floor, holding his bloody left hand with his right, screaming frantically with his eyes rolling wildly.
Andrey was terrified by the gruesome sight, opened the door, and ran out of the shop. Within seconds, reaching the supervisor's office, he stutteringly explained what had happened. The supervisor called an ambulance and, grabbing a first-aid kit, ran to help the victim accompanied by Andrey. After providing first aid, they waited for the ambulance and handed Rustem over to the medics.
The accident investigation began. The commission interviewed the witness and asked him to show at the scene exactly what had happened. Upon arriving at the compressor shop, they opened the door and went inside. Andrey, saying, \"Now I'll show you what happened,\" ran up to the motor. None of us had time to shout a word before he stuck the index finger of his left hand into the air vent of the cooling fan shroud of that very same motor. The members of the commission had never heard such a terrifying, blood-curdling scream in their lives. A second later, Andrey was rolling on the floor, holding his bloody left hand with his right, his eyes rolling wildly as he screamed frantically...