Contractor's hospital discharge expected this week

A local contractor who lost his arm in a construction accident may come home as soon as next weekend.

Bob Shaw, part-owner of Shaw Construction, had skin graft surgery Thursday and is recovering in a San Francisco hospital. He lost his left arm Nov. 11 in an accident involving heavy equipment at a Reno construction site.

Brother Steve Shaw said Bob may be able to return to his Washoe Valley home next weekend.

"He is upbeat and moving around, getting exercise so that he can get better and come home," he said. "He's getting stronger every day."

Because of the nature of his injury, Shaw was taken by air ambulance to California Pacific Medical Center, where doctors specialize in microsurgery and limb reattachment. Because of the severity of the damage, his arm could not be reattached.

During his stay at the hospital, he had surgery for the initial injury, followed by the skin graft last week.

Steve Shaw said the accident sent a shockwave through the business. Bob Shaw runs the crane operation and owns the business with his brother Ed as well as Steve.

"It's been real tough," Steve said. "We know that it's going to be hard for him because he is so physically active."

The accident occurred while workers were using crane equipment to lift a cement wall. Workers have been reluctant to talk about the details of the accident except to say that an Occupational Safety and Health Association investigation at the site has found no signs of operator error. They said a mechanical malfunction was to blame.

The brothers have looked into the possibility of opening a fund for people interested in helping with medical costs.

Steve said Shaw's family has been a great support to him. His sisters Holly Black and Sandy Hatchel have been at his side since the accident. Shaw's children Tiffany and Mackenzie and wife Linda just returned from San Francisco.

Shaw construction is working on a commercial building at the accident site at 745 Trademark. The company does commercial projects throughout Northern Nevada.