[TheForge] Oh, Jeeze...California Considers Table Saw Law

[Andrew Vida]

On 3/20/2012 10:41 PM, Geoff Nelson wrote:
> I have been suing a mates
> mitre saw and felt highly vulnerable as it did not have a guard that
> covered the blade. I subsequently went a bought a cheapie as I wanted a
> guard so that I would not put my hand into the blade after I made my cut.

That is the right way to do things.  Do not like what is available, get 
something else or make your own.  This mentality of force is killing us 
in dribs and drabs.  The so-called "regulatory" environment in the USA 
is strangling the life out of many businesses.  "Government" is not 
empowered to regulate anything in this manner, though that fact has not 
stopped them from doing so.
>
> Safety equipment that works and does not disadvantage the use of the
> tool will sell and eventually all equipment will have it as a minimum. I
> bought the saw because I realised there was a higher risk using
> equipment without it.

Actually that is really not true at all.  It is every bit as easy to lop 
half your hand off with a saw that has a guard as it is on one without. 
  I have worked in several cabinet shops and the first thing they did if 
a new saw came in was to remove the guards.  Personally, I find them to 
be very much in the way.  Haven't lost a digit to a table saw yet.  Not 
even a nick.  Other equipment... another story. :)
>
> We'll all eventually learn common sense. There is an easy way, pity most
> choose the hard way.

Things are not quite as cut and dried as you seem to imply.  Different 
people like to work differently.  One guy likes the guard, one tolerates 
it, and one hates it.  Different strokes and all that.