What I meant by my fingers contacting the defect is that I would have to poke my finger into the contact while it was plugged into the wall. When its plugged into the machine you can't get to it and it isn't contacting the machine except where its supposed to. Nothing is exposed with the chunk out that isn't exposed with the chunk in. This isn't a electrocution hazard. I was more worried that it might be weak there and more prone to breakage without the chunk replaced. I was hoping to use this machine to finish a Christmas quilt since I'm not sure my other one will free motion.