OSHA clears company that operated runaway saw blade | News | kezi.com

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The saw blade estimated to be four feet wide, after it impacted the store front, just inches from the door and seconds after a customer had just walked in.

EUGENE, Ore. – The company that was operating a concrete saw back in March when its blade came loose and sped away, nearly striking a man, has been cleared by OSHA after an investigation, representatives from the company said.

Back on March 28, a man walking into a Eugene convenience store narrowly missed a runaway concrete saw that slammed into the store’s wall seconds after he walked inside. The saw had come loose from a nearby construction site where workers contracted by Northwest Natural Gas were fixing a leaky gas valve.

In April, Empire Concrete Cutting, based out of Springfield, confirmed it was the company on-site when the saw blade came loose. The owner of the company said one of their veteran saw cutters was working with the saw, when the blade lost tension due to excessive cutting, broke loose from the machine, and went hurtling across the parking lot. No one was injured in the incident.

A complaint was filed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but OSHA cleared the company after they retired the blade and replaced pieces of the saw with new parts. The owner of Empire Concrete Cutting said they always strive for safety during their work. He went on to say everyone with the company was safe during the incident and he was glad no one got hurt.

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