Woodworking is a popular hobby with an estimated 10 million Americans using table saws. But a recent study found that an estimated 565,000 non-occupational table saw-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments from 1990-2007.
Sixty-six percent of the injuries were lacerations with 10 percent amputations. The majority of injuries were to the fingers or thumb when coming in contact with the blade of the saw.
Kickback (72 percent) was the most common mechanism problem, followed by debris being thrown by the saw (10 percent), lifting or moving the saw (six percent), or getting a glove or clothing caught in the blade (four percent).
The Patient Life 