Once an employee of the Bluth Company, J. Walter Weatherman got a new lease on life after an on-the-job accident cost him his arm. George Sr. frequently hired Weatherman over the years to teach lessons to his children by constructing elaborate scenarios in which Weatherman would lose an arm. Beyond the appearances by him throughout Arrested Development, the show adds some dynamic in G.O.B. and Michael having a fear of Buster when he loses his hand.
This comes full circle down the way when G.O.B. and Michael pull a double fake-out and use Buster to teach George not to use people missing limbs to teach lessons.