ted

woodworker1120,

The government mandates many things related to health and safety. In agriculture they determine what crops can and cannot be treated with. The FDA tells us that melamine can't be put in baby formula. The EPA tells us how much discharge coal fired plants can emit and they set minimum air and water quality standards.
If we left it as a choice or let everyone decide on their own what a minimum safe standard is I'm sure we'd be living in a toxic unsafe cesspool with no government intervention.
True, a bottom end auto is probably not as safe as a Hummer in a vehicle crash with identical conditions. But what the regulations do is set a minimum bar that all manufacturers have to meet. Such as seat belts, airbags, brake specifications, gasoline tank design, etc. The requirement of seat belts by itself has saved tens of thousands of lives since it's institution. Can anyone imagine if consumers were given the option of choosing seat belts in their vehicle in order to save a few dollars?
I think the same holds true with new technology on saws. If is scientifically documented that it can improve safety then the minimum safety requirements should be raised to accommodate that technology.

I have no idea what transpired in the court room but the argument the attorneys must have made were obviously convincing to a jury. It would be interesting to know whether any of the jury understood the nature of woodworking and the tools associated with the craft.
But surely the issue of product liability must have entered into the courtroom arguments. And from what I know of those jury awards that concern these liability issues a manufacturer must show they took every precaution available to make their product safe under reasonable conditions. The fact that Sawstop technology is available and it was not available on that saw automatically means the manufacturer did not do everything in their power to market a safer saw.
One product that immediately comes to mind are the Halogen torchiere lamps that were heavily marketed in the 1990's and early 2000's. The exposed halogen bulb gets extremely hot and often there would be no cover over the bulb to prevent combustable material from contacting the heat source. After several fires and lawsuits the manufacturers began installing mesh screens or glass over the bulbs. Whether that became a mandate I do not know. What I do know is that if a manufacturer were to overlook that detail now-a-days having the past knowledge of their history they would surely be held liable.
There are plenty of products that get recalled because of these omissions as we have seen. Most notably children's toys. Sometimes someone has already gotten hurt sometimes it's some flaw that wasn't caught during product development and the manufacturer issues the recall in order to avoid any future product liability.

Great body of work. I really appreciate his ability to read into ever board and pull out its essence in his designs.

Hmmm, CR student or grad?

Nice proportions and use of material.

sweet.

Help ! ! ! This isn't good for my vertigo.

I'll be sure to look for you folks. And you forgot to mention that Anissa Kapsales will be participating as a judge in the Fresh Wood student competition.

Hi. I met you last fall at the CR 25 year reunion. Nice cabinet.

-Ted

Nice composition and proportions.