Found this on another site and thought I would post it for your information. A timely reminder, especially for people like me who do not like Tables saws.

None of us like to read accident reports here on the Pond. This one is especially hard because it happened to me! But I feel that it is important for us to share our experiences as a point of educating and reminding others of shop safety. So here goes....

On Saturday night I was ripping a piece of 4/4 cherry. I was on my last cut of the night. As usual, I was standing to the side in proper position. I noticed that the cut was drifting. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the knob on the fence unlocked. Without thinking I leaned over and locked down the fence, putting me out of position.

BAM! That's when it happened. A powerful kickback of a 1/2"X 4' piece of 4/4 cherry. Caught me in the right abdomen. Felt like a mule kicked me. But wait....I knew it was worse. I did not look down. By instict I reached down and felt the wood still in me. I grabbed it and pulled it out. I knew it was deep. I was bleeding badly.

The crazy thing is that I took time to shut down the DC, stereo, lights etc. SWMBO (an RN) rushed me to the trauma center. She was doing 40 MPH in a 35 zone and got pulled over by a cop! DOH! I showed the cop my wound and we got a police escort.

I wasn't in the trauma center long before I was rushed up to emergency surgery. The wood had gone into me about 5". But I am a lucky SOB because no vital organs were punctured. There was a lot of muscle damage that had to be repaired.

I am glad to report that I will be ok. I have been home this week recovering and hope to be back at the office next week. My spirits have been down but I am getting better day by day.

KC gave me good advice. He said that I needed to get back in the shop ASAP. I have ventured out there and putzed around. It will take some time for me to heal emotionally and get my WW confidence back. I will in good time.

Meanwhile I am using this break to re-evaluate my shop safety. I will be buying a splitter for the Unisaw and may not cut on the saw until I have it installed. I'm considering a leather apron. Wish they made them out of Kevlar!!! In general I will adopt a more safety concious mindset before operating tools in the future.

I have always considered myself a cautious and safety minded woodworker. But this accident demonstrates that even one mistake can cost you.

My friends, you don't need to respond to this post. I only want it to serve as an urging for all of you to take a few minutes in the shop and think about safety. Do not take ANY action in the shop for granted.

This is very hard for me to share but if this post causes you to take some time to re-evaluate your safety then it is worth it.

Work safe!!!!

Tommy, The luckiest WW on the Pond