Working Wood

Even though I do not agree with the jury in this case. I do believe an industry should take every opportunity to make a dangerous tool as safe as possible. I commend the guy who invented a tool that will save fingers from being removed in an accident. If the other tool companies would have followed SawStops lead, this accident and many others could have been avoided. My question is why the other tool companies refuse to implement this type of system. I'm sure the initial cost to get it started will not be cheap but it seems the industry is not thinking about the safety of it's costumers.

As a matter of fact I'm in the market myself for a new saw and the only choice for me is the SawStop. I wish I had more saws to choose from but the fact remains, SawStop is the safest tool on the market. It's not that I'm a clumsy guy and think one day I will cut my fingers off, but I just like the idea of having this type of assurance in case of an accident. I also have a son that will one day inherit my tools and I would like to know that this new technology will protect him as well.

I know the tool companies have tough choices to make sometimes in order to keep cost down and be competitive in the market, but I just think they failed to see the opportunity here, and that is to say that operating this type of machinery is not as dangerous as it used to be. In fact I think that many companies would see a drop in insurance rates and this would well compensate for the higher cost in the machinery itself.

My heart goes out for all those who have been in horrible machinery accidents. Carpentry and woodworking do not have to be such a dangerous occupation. With a little training, common sense, and a tool that has great safety aspects, we would see less emergency rooms and greater production in the shop. Maybe instead of having one choice for now, the courts will change this to be like the auto industry: YOU HAVE TO BUY THE AIR BAG BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE !!