Mishaps: True table saw stories we can all learn from.
Comments (0)
Table Saw Safety
A Woodworking Hand Surgeon’s Unique Perspective
By John A. Miyano, M.D.
AS A PRACTICING HAND SURGEON in a large metropolitan area, I often find myself in the emergency room trying to salvage the end result of man versus power tool. As an avid woodworker, I truly empathize with my fellow craftsman lying on a hospital gurney trying to cope with his feelings of fear, disbelief, and regret after a workshop mishap. After more than a decade of clinical work, I have seen injuries with almost every major tool. In each case, I ask for details on how the injury occurred to assess the mistakes made and the precautions that should have been taken. Because the table saw, the centerpiece of most shops, ranks as the biggest culprit, I’d like to delve into the four most common pitfalls on this tool and how to remedy them. But first…

When
Experience Leads to Lax
At age 70, “Robert” had spent the better part of the last 40 years making award-winning, decorative boxes. As I unwrapped the blood-tinged gauze to make my initial assessment, he warned me that the injury was fairly serious. Indeed, in a momentary lapse of caution, Robert had passed his hand across the blade to remove a scrap, partially amputating his index and middle fingers. Ultimately, the index finger was not salvageable and the middle finger was severely compromised by the injury to the nerves and joints. Although he has returned to woodworking, the recovery process was a real trial for Robert. I could see in his eyes that his spirit was nearly broken. The lesson: More experience does not translate into fewer injuries. I have found that beginners rarely get injured, in part due to healthy fear. The majority of the injured are experienced professionals and advanced hobbyists, both of whom develop a level of comfort with their tools and spend more time with them.

Four Common Pitfalls
Although no two injured hands are identical, there
are some common ways people get into trouble. 1. Removal of the blade guard. As obvious as that point is, most do
not appreciate how much protection the guard really affords. If I had to
estimate, I would guess that at least 75% of the injuries that I have seen, if
not more, would have been prevented by the use of a guard.
Remedy: I acknowledge that, for many, the
guard hinders productivity and that certain techniques (e.g. non-through cuts,
use of a crosscut sled) require its removal. Just keep in mind that when it's off, the danger factor elevates significantly and vigilance is mandatory. If your blade guard is flimsy or intrusive, consider purchasing a higher quality aftermarket guard. Some are suspended over the table (obviating removal for non-through cuts) and even incorporate dust extraction as an added
feature.
2. Reaching across the path of the blade to pick up a cut-off. As ridiculous as it sounds, we have all had projects that required multiple, repetitive cuts where you get lulled into the rhythm of cutting and discarding the scrap. A spinning blade’s outer diameter is difficult to visually estimate, especially if your mind has already moved on to the next step. Don’t count on your reflexes to minimize the damage. It takes roughly 1/40th of a second for a pain signal to go from your finger to spinal cord and back to muscle that pulls your hand away. In that flicker of time, the average 40-tooth blade has already spun more than 60 carbide teeth across your fingertip. Remedy: When-ever possible, use a pushstick to clear scraps or, wait until the blade stops moving and avoid an unwelcome manicure.

3. Kickback. The consequences of having a sheet of plywood flung into your
torso may be obvious, but the potential consequences to your hands may not. While
guiding a board by hand on a rip cut, you may think your hands are out of the
danger zone once they have passed the leading edge of the blade. Think again.
In the unfortunate circumstance of the blade binding, the wood lifts up and is
thrust back towards you, potentially driving your forward hand across the blade from behind.

4. Dangerous blade height. I’ve heard differing
opinions about optimal blade height, but some recommendations seem dangerous.

Remedy: From the standpoint of
safety, I think that lower is better. It is much harder to lose a finger if the
amount of exposed blade is less than your finger’s diameter. A lower blade might necessitate more forward pressure to feed the stock, but from the stand-point
of kickback reduction,it limits the amount of upward lift on the back sideof
the blade.

My Final Word
For me, table saw safety is a combination of using the best
available safety equipment, uncompromising attention to proper technique, and
honest acknowledgement of the potential danger of the tool. Last year, I sold
my trusty Unisaw and replaced it with a SawStop saw. The electronic
blade-breaking mechanism is revolutionary, providing a level of
protection unmatched by any currently
available device. In addition, the saw has a well-designed, quick release blade
guard and splitter that can be rapidly removed or swapped with a riving knife
in a matter of seconds. I hope that the major tool manufacturers, having
rejected the blade-breaking technology when it was introduced, take note of
this successful design and make innovation in safety technology a new priority.
Does my experience as a hand surgeon make me think twice about using a table
saw? It sure does, and I’m glad of it. The heartbreak of seeing a fellow
woodworker with an injured hand is the best antidote for complacency. I hope
that this article gives you some insight into the reality of table saw injury
and helps you to enjoy the craft while keeping your hands out of harm’s way. As
much as I enjoy my profession, I would much rather meet you at a woodworking
show than in the emergency room.

Table Saws
-
Sawstop
3 HP Professional Cabinet Saw - 230V 1-Phase - 36" Professional T-Glide Fence System
Item 847462$3,582.00
-
Sawstop
3 HP Professional Cabinet Saw - 230V 1-Phase - 52" Professional T-Glide Fence System
Item 847463$3,675.00
Write Comment
You must be logged in to write a comment. Log In
0 Comments