The idea of finding your hand in a garbage disposal is probably not something you want to think about. But what would really happen?
The garbage disposal consists of really sharp tools for decomposing large particles of trash, therefore if you put your hand down there when the disposal is on, it would certainly be cut. Also, your fingers would probably get broken, and this can quickly lead to life-threatening consequences.
Is It Safe To Put Your Hand In The Garbage Disposal?
It cannot be said that putting your hand in a garbage disposal is an entirely safe thing to do. Of course, if the garbage disposal is off, you might not be faced with some major injuries, but if it is on, it can get messy and dangerous. However, there are ways in which putting your hand in the garbage disposal will not cause any serious damages, but you have to know the proper ways to do that, so you could avoid any unpleasantries.
As you probably know, the garbage disposal is made of sharp tools to decompose and cut large particles of food and similar stuff. Therefore, putting your hand inside of it might result in cutting your hand and bleeding seriously. However, if you put your hand while the garbage disposal is off, then you will probably not deal with any major injuries.
Nonetheless, if you want to put your hand inside of garbage disposal, even when it is off, you have to know the proper ways to do it. Nowadays, the garbage disposals on the market are user-friendly, so they are not as dangerous as they seem. But, you have to remember that they consist of sharp blades, so you should expect some finger cuts if you put your hand inside of them.
Therefore, whenever you want to stick your hand in the garbage disposal, even when it is off, make sure that you read the instructions that are probably given on the manual for stuck food or similar things. It is better to get informed, before taking any action on your own.
How Does Garbage Disposal Work?
Firstly, you have to remember that garbage disposals are made of two main cutting parts – shredder and impeller. These two parts are responsible for grinding the food remains. The sharp slots of the shredder are responsible for tearing the food apart, while the spinning arms of the impeller grind the food.
Considering the way the garbage is disposed of, you are probably already aware of what kind of consequences might result from putting your hand into it. Once again, while the garbage disposal is off, you might not get hurt, or you might get a minor cut. However, putting your hand in the disposal that is working at the same moment, then you might deal with something serious.
What Would Garbage Disposal Do To Your Hand?
The scary and eerie sound that the garbage disposal produces might be enough for you to get an idea of what will happen to your hand if you put it inside of it while it works. Your hand will not get shredded or obliterated like an apple, however, it might get seriously injured. Since we already talked about the cutting parts of the garbage disposal, you must be aware of what kind of consequences it might cause to your hand and skin.
At some point, your hand might get a significant injury so it would lead to an amputation. However, those are usually the rarest cases, but still, they should not be excluded from the possibility. Nonetheless, you should remember that there would be major injuries and damages to the skin and bones.
Sometimes, people mention fatal consequences since there would be major bleeding. You probably know that when a person bleeds extremely, there are high chances of serious complications and loss of a huge amount of blood. If this happens at some point, you should know that you need to apply pressure to the wound and immediately call for help.
You should remember that you should not ignore any wounds, cuts, or injuries caused by the garbage disposal. The best and the smartest solution would be to seek professional help to be on the safe side.
Can You Hurt Yourself With Garbage Disposal?
While putting your hand inside of the garbage disposal when it is on can be quite dangerous, when it is off it can cause a minor cut to the fingers or something like that. However, there are several other damages that can occur while using this device.
Electric Shock
Since this is a device that operates with water and electricity combined, there is a chance of occurrence of an electric shock. Also, there are some vibrations felt while the garbage disposal is working. Therefore, the combination of water, power, and vibrations, can sometimes lead to an electric shock.
The chances of an electric shock increase when the motor of the disposal is about to burn out, as well as when you use a lot of metal utensils in your sink. Therefore, it is very important to make regular checks, by a professional if there is a possibility. Also, remember never to try to fix the disposal when your hands are wet since this way you are making the chances of electric shocks even higher.
Septic Problems
Since the garbage disposal is used to decompose large particles of food and similar things, you are probably aware that this is a perfect place for bacteria to grow. The bacteria might cause septic problems, and lead to leakages and other hazards. Sometimes, it can even clog the plumbing system inside your house.
In order to avoid this, make sure that you inspect your garbage disposal regularly to see whether everything is running smoothly.
How Do You Free A Stuck Garbage Disposal?
Even though you might not get hurt if you put your hand inside of the garbage disposal while it is off, it is always better to use some kind of tool to unstick something from it. You should remember that you are not a professional, and you should not risk the health of your hand by putting it inside sharp blades.
Therefore, when there is food or some object stuck in the disposal, firstly make sure that the device is off. Then choose some kind of tool, such as tongs, or some other kind of a retrieving tool, that will help you get the object out without placing your hand inside. Always find something that will help you retrieve anything that might be stuck inside the garbage disposal so you can avoid any unpleasant situations.
As you can see, you can seriously damage your hand if you put it inside the garbage disposal, so it is better that you do not try that. Therefore, whenever something is stuck inside of it, choose a tool for retrieving rather than your hand.
Sources:
https://homesteady.com/info-8680550-can-garbage-disposal-lost-forever.html
https://wonderfulengineering.com/what-happens-when-you-put-your-hand-in-a-garbage-disposal/
