Table Saw - Injuries

Injuries

Causes of table saw injuries include:

• Failure to read warning labels and the owner's manual before use.
• When the saw is not in use, leaving the blade projecting above the table.
• Not disconnecting power when performing maintenance or changing blades.
• Not using a push stick or other such safety device when making cuts that otherwise require fingers to be close to the blade.
• Using the saw in a way that fingers advance into the path of the blade.
• Failing to be alert and pay consistent attention.
• Removing the blade guard. If the original guard is unsatisfactory, aftermarket guards are available in various configurations. Note that one main function of a typical blade guard is to act as a splitter, which helps prevent the cut in the wood from closing and pinching the back of the blade and kicking back. Sometimes the blade guard is more of a danger than a safety feature, most commonly during smaller cuts (less than 3 inches), and cuts with a push stick, and should be removed.
• Wood being cut can violently kick back. This is due to advancing the wood in a sinuous line or because natural stresses in the wood cause the cut to pinch the back of the saw blade. This can be strong enough to cause the material to jolt backwards and result in serious injury to the operator. The use of the splitter or a riving knife can reduce or eliminate this problem. See Avoiding Kickback
• Not wearing eye protection. The rotational mass of a spinning saw blade combined with a large electric motor can contribute to the violent and unexpected ejection of material. Wearing unsuitable safety glasses that don't fully encompass the eye area, including the front and sides of the eye, can also result in injuries.
• Lack of ear protection. Extremely loud noises as well as prolonged fairly loud noises can contribute to hearing loss as well as tinnitus.
• Wearing clothing that's excessively loose-fitting, and failing to tie back long hair. These are dangerous if they come in contact with the blade. Cuffs should also be buttoned if wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
• Maladjusted blade not perfectly parallel with the fence and the miter slots. If it is not parallel, the workpiece can often become pinched between the blade and the fence, inducing violent kickback and causing injury.
• Not pushing the material past the saw when finishing a cut. These pieces can get caught and violently drawn into the blade, resulting in kickback.
• Failing to operate defensively. The nature of wood includes variations in structure and internal forces, and its not uncommon for natural stresses in a piece of wood to cause the blade to be pinched and thrown violently.