Despite Proven Technology, Attempts To Make Table Saws Safer Drag On

NPR ^ | Aug 10, 2017 | CHRIS ARNOLD, MOLLIE SIMON

[upchuck]

Every day, more than 10 Americans suffer amputations on what is by far the most dangerous woodworking tool: the table saw. Regulators in Washington, D.C., are moving closer to adopting a rule that would make new saws so much safer that they could prevent 99 percent of serious accidents.

But even after more than a decade of study, and the existence of a proven technology that all sides agree works astoundingly well to prevent injuries, it's unclear whether the Consumer Product Safety Commission will finally pass a rule requiring all new saws to have an active injury prevention monitoring system built into them.

[upchuck]

You might ask, "Why is this?"

First, some details:

... Congress has thrown up a roadblock against safer saws.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill for the 2018 fiscal year that includes a clause prohibiting the CPSC from acting on table saw safety.

"None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used to finalize any rule by the Consumer Product Safety Commission relating to blade-contact injuries on table saws," the rider on the budget bill reads.

Republican Rep. Tom Graves of Georgia, who chairs the Financial Services and General Government subcommittee where the rider originated, was unavailable for an interview.

Here's your answer, in the article's next paragraph:

The Power Tool Institute has already invested tens of thousands of dollars this year to lobby Congress against the CPSC rule.

To me it's outrageous that Congress approves a bill specifically prohibiting the CSPC from authorizing safer table saws. As usual, follow the money.

[VanDeKoik]

I have a simple rule.

Always act afraid of it.

I’m always paranoid of power saws. Even if I stop using my table saw for only 10 minutes, I will retract the blade completely until I need to use it again. I also never take my eye off of it, even while turning it off.

[Noamie]

Holy cow. Just get a Saw Stop. This is the kind of govt regulation bs that I hate. Weird that anyone would push this.

[honurider]

What ever happened to the saying;

“You got to be smarter than the tool you are using.”

[Noumenon]

Here’s a clue: Keep yer fingers away from the blade. Now, where’s my grubermint grant for $2 million?

[buckalfa]

I say you can’t fix stupid (as I stare down at the missing tip of my left index finger). Human nature is to try and do things too fast or to employ shortcuts.

[ptsal]

Grandpa got the name “stubby” for a reason.

[american_ranger]

Saw Stop is the company pushing this law. They want the feds to mandate that people buy their product. They have been on the market for years and nobody wants to buy it because it is as expensive as hell and a real bitch to maintain.

[Revolutionary]

When I was in my teens, my friend accidentally sawed off half of one of his fingers. Luckily, his little sister had the presence of mind to find it, put it in ice and give it to the paramedics. She is now a nurse.

[BobL]

“And yet, here we are over 14 years later after this petition was initially filed, still engaged in a glacial process with an uncertain end. There’s no time left to waste.”

Sounds like the OBAMA ADMINISTRATION doesn’t care about workfinger safety.

[Steven Tyler]

High School shop class

Shown how to make a push stick
Rule #1: ALWAYS use a push stick when using the table saw

[sport]

Unless it pertained to thievery, lying, and stealing, the obama administration had no knowledge of it.

[NorthMountain]

Thanks for cutting through all the BS.

[headstamp 2]

Complacency.

I knew a cabinet maker who used a table saw everyday for over 30 years. During the 31st year, he cut off two fingers on his right hand trying to meet a deadline for a project.

Chop saws are also a dangerous saw for the left hand holding the trim.

Work slow and deliberately, never hurry and PAY ATTENTION.

Oh, and no bullsh***ing while using them.

Don’t get me started on chainsaws.

We also need to accept the fact that certain people shouldn’t be anywhere near this equipment.

[Paladin2]

“The SawStop patents will expire in 2021.”

[boycott]

10 per day? Wow! I know someone that almost died from injury from a table saw. I know of another that did die from complications after an injury from a table saw.

[caltaxed]

A guy at work was cutting boards with his radial arm saw and managed to lop off 4 fingers. His dog was in the garage with him at the time and quickly woofed down one of the fingers when it hit the floor.

They were only able to reattach three of the four fingers.

[DoodleBob]

Can't this be modified for the table saw, and simultaneously save fingers while keeping the government out of common sense things?

[ThunderSleeps]

I agree it is pretty neat technology. I very much disagree that it should be mandated on all saws in the name of safety. Personally, I don't want to pay for it. I've been using table saws off and on for 40 years. My Dad taught me how to use them safely and guess what - basic common sense safety procedures work.

I don't want to have to pay just because some government flunky wants to try to idiot-proof a basic tool. Hey, why don't we put air bags on hammers and optical recognition so it can tell when it is swinging towards a finger...{snort}

If you ask me, radial arm saws are far more inherently dangerous. I am always extremely deliberate around my Dad's.

[moovova]

Thank goodness table saws aren’t painted evil black and have high capacity saw blades.