You can win $1.5 million! A bit on woodworking safety.

A jury recently awarded 1.5 million bucks to a guy who mangled his fingers on a Ryobi table saw. Here's the story: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/03/06/man_wins_15m_in_first_of_i...

My thoughts on shop safety. Yeah, let the comments begin...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• saw
• stop
• shop
• safety
• jury
• awards
• $1.5
• million
• table
• accident
• lawsuit
• ryobi
• woodworking

[MrShmev1]

I think it is his mistress. She's not wearing a ring. I sent them an e-mail to show them the blunder, but so far x-na on the fix-a.

[stevinmarin]

@MrShmev1 Haha...good observation! I didn't even notice that. What a tramp!

[TheMathGuy]

I sometimes have to wonder if what motivates the "safety zealots" isn't resentment. They resent it when they encounter a free man who takes personal responsibility for his own actions and doesn't need to ask anyone's "permission" precisely because he doesn't need someone whom he can pass the blame on to if he makes a mistake. Having never fully matured themselves, these people don't grasp personal responsibility and are not free--and they resent those of us who are.

[stevinmarin]

@TheMathGuy

Dude, judging by your comment, you must be a fan of my favorite author: Ayn Rand.

[GremlinWood]

Whilst I and everyone agree's you cannot possibly have a society that rewards people for being stupid, put hands into a table saw is pretty stupid. I would say one thing though, that I do not agree with you about. Wearing safety glasses should be mandatory, you have 10 digits, loose one, its ok you have 9 more, eyesight is whole different thing though, loss of one eye is catastrophic for depth perception.

[RJRizzo80]

I applaud you, could not say it better myself

[RenoScruggs]

i agree with everything he said

[cnclathe21]

+1 U R RIGHT MATE..

[startreking2007]

I have some measures I do for safety. Like always retract table saw blade when finished. Still trying to get comfortable with it by using it more. The 80's Sears router I use spits bits of wood all over the place so for that thing I do use safety glasses. Unfortunately my family has a history of hearing loss so I have little choice in using hearing protection.

[tommykinda]

@SCX427 Bought mine at harbor freight with a 30% off coupon and then built steve's table saw sled. Easy to use and not very costly.

[SCX427]

The man took advantage of his own stupidity. I absolutely agree with everything that you said, Steve. Thanks for making all these awesome videos. By the way, I have a Question for you. I would like to begin woodworking and Am not sure what table saw to get. I am looking for something in the novice level and I don't want to spend a lot on it. Could you please give me some suggestions? Thanks!!

[shaunharmer1]

Very well said my friend, couldn't agree more!

[frost0813]

Dude, you are friggin' helarious, and I feel we should work together. I agree that there are a lot of idiots out there with power tools. Perhaps an IQ test should be require for their perchase, but not saw stop technology. I don't even have the guards on ANY of my stationary tools (tablesaw, router table, bandsaw...) except the jointer, because they obstruct vissability. IMHO, vissability is the second most highly under rated safety tool, the first being brains.

[daz99uk5]

Only accident i've had in my Carpentry carrer is standing the end of my finger on a sanding machine.. While trying to sand a 20mm by 20mm bit of wood! I learned my leason the hard way - Never sand try to sand small bits.

It was for a model house btw :P