“It was lunch time, and all I wanted to do was get a few strips cut. The guys had already gone to lunch… I was pushing with a push stick. Everything was going good [until] the wood bound up, the push stick broke and I fell forward. By the time I could get my hand straight up, it was too late… Seven days in the hospital, four operations, and the index finger had to be moved to the thumb. [A total of] 23 weeks off work.” Even for the most skilled and cautious operators, the table saw is a dangerous and unforgiving tool.
This is just one of the 160 table saw accident stories that occur each day in the United States, with 10 resulting in amputation. According to OSHA’s small business calculator, the average cost of an amputation is $186,881*. For a small business, that is an additional $1,868,809 in total sales to cover the direct and indirect costs**. When you are on the construction or job site, this risk is compounded by the fact that there are many distractions, less training and higher employee turnover that can lead to an accident. It only takes a split second lapse in concentration for a table saw accident to occur.
To help avoid table saw accidents from occurring, there are some basic best safety practices that should be taken. First, always use the proper guarding. This includes a blade guard with anti-kickback pawls and a splitter. The blade guard reduces the likelihood of your hand making contact with the blade, and the combination of the anti-kickback pawls and splitter help reduce the chances of the board kicking back and striking the operator. When cutting small materials where you hand will pass near the blade, always have the push stick standing by. If provided, use the low section of your fence when making these types of cuts. Also while on the jobsite, set the saw up on flat ground in an area where distractions will be limited.
STEVE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY 2018
STEVE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY 2018
When all the safety guards and precautions fail, one company has tackled this problem head on and found a way to reduce the likelihood of a serious table saw accident from even occurring. That company is SawStop. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Steve Gass, SawStop’s patented safety system detects contact with skin. It stops a spinning blade within five milliseconds and drops it below the table, reducing a potential amputation to a mere nick. Not only do they have cabinet saws for cabinetmakers, industrial woodworkers and home hobbyists, but SawStop just announced the launch of a new Jobsite Saw Pro. This new Pro model is an upgraded version of their current Jobsite Saw and comes equipped with an Active Dust Collection Blade Guard, 2” deeper table and a high/low fence.
To learn more, visit SawStop’s website at: www.sawstop.com/jobsite.
* https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/safetypays/estimator.html
** Assuming a 10% profit margin