Thread: saw stop inventor puts his finger into the blade

OK, I think it's fair to say this is a case of unstoppable force meets immovable object Both camps can go on quoting what to them are valid arguments til the cows come home. I'd just like to draw everyone's attention to the comparisons that have been made with a car's airbag, well I think it is even snazzier than that, would you buy a car that has had the airbag deployed over 100 times!

Now in all seriousness Ruddigar, this may have been asked before, but what protection does the machine offer after the switch has been turned off, but the blade is still spinning? I ask this after stories related about when an injury occurred and because just a few days ago I came back to the saw after switching off the dusty and thought about removing some waste. Fortunately alarm bells were ringing so nothing happened, but I could see how it would be easy to drop one's guard in this situation.

Cheers
Michael

Originally Posted by soundman

.

If a worker inadvertently tries to cut damp or wet wood (how damp), material with any conductive content, metal clad plywood, carbon fibre, metalised laminates and so on.

But havent you been telling us all that through proper training accidents wont happen.
(or at least thats the gist of it - not needed because you can train people correctly.)

So how did this clown slip through your training

Can we stop with the airbag arguement. Almost all cars that have had an airbag deploy go directly to the wreckers as the damage is so severe. Front on impact they deploy at over 36km/h (at last check) - 36k's into an immovable object = writeoff.

And they ONLY trigger in an accident or if a mechanic tries to remove one and doesnt know how to do it correctly. All the other myths are BS.

The fundamental princilpe is that following the opeartion of the safety device the equipment is "not fit for use" and requires repair and replacement of parts.

That applies to the saw, but presumably not the sawyer

Originally Posted by mic-d

Now in all seriousness Ruddigar, this may have been asked before, but what protection does the machine offer after the switch has been turned off, but the blade is still spinning?

Hi Michael,

The safety mechanism will still operate when the blade is "coasting down". If, however, you turn the machine off at the power point instead of using the stop switch, then the safety mechanism is deactivated.

Originally Posted by soundman

Regardles of how easy it is, it is a "safety device" and as such in many risk assessments it will require a "qualified" or "trained" person both to make the "repair", and to fill out wthe workplace incident report and declare the equipment safe to use..... and all because the worker spilled his drink on a piece of timber he subsiquently cut.

The fundamental princilpe is that following the opeartion of the safety device the equipment is "not fit for use" and requires repair and replacement of parts.

The fact that the safety device can not be reset without replacement of parts and lost time.

The safety device can be triggered by processes that could be considered normal and safe, processes that have nothing to do with the stuation protected against.

If a worker inadvertently tries to cut damp or wet wood (how damp), material with any conductive content, metal clad plywood, carbon fibre, metalised laminates and so on......It cost the workplace owner $200 a time. consideably more if a specilaist or custom blade is being used.
I know of a modest staircase joiney that uses custom blades that cost over $200 each.

To perform certain functions that may be common in many workplaces the safety feature has to be disabled.

The safety feature can easily be disabled by the user.

All the above, would be considered flaws and require specific mention in any risk assessment made for workplace health and safety purposes.

Please don't buy a bucket. You may spill some water and then someone will have to clean it up.

Originally Posted by Ruddigar

Hi Michael,

The safety mechanism will still operate when the blade is "coasting down". If, however, you turn the machine off at the power point instead of using the stop switch, then the safety mechanism is deactivated.

So it has some sensor that deactivates the mechanism once it has spun down?

Cheers
Michael

Yup.

That's clever. If someone manually spins the blade, say to inspect it, will that trigger the mechanism?
Cheers
Michael

Nope.

Contact is detected, but the mechanism is not activated during blade inspection. As soon as you start the machine, the safety mechanism is active, and will remain so until the blade has fully stopped.

Thanks for your patience Ruddigar, I bet these questions have been asked a million times

Cheers
Michael

I have no problem with a bucket... even after a spill it remains fully functional and requires no replacement parts.


As for the training......there are standard industrial procedures that are commonly expected.

Cutting damp wood presents no problem to any other wood working tool and as such, many operators may not be aware of the problem and many workshop owners who work mostly in dry timber may not have experienced the problem and there for not train for it.

Clasic example
you employ and experienced and very safe worker from a labour hire company and donet remember to tell him/her that the saw bench has a problem with wet timber or anything conductive.

so it cost you $500.

I not saying the whole thig is bad...... just that it isnt all sweetness and light and the be all of saw bench safety.....ofter all it wont stop kickback which is the most common dangerous action arround saw benches and the injuries from kickback are potentilay much worse than loss of a few fingers.

cheers

Originally Posted by soundman

I have no problem with a bucket... even after a spill it remains fully functional and requires no replacement parts.


As for the training......there are standard industrial procedures that are commonly expected.

Cutting damp wood presents no problem to any other wood working tool and as such, many operators may not be aware of the problem and many workshop owners who work mostly in dry timber may not have experienced the problem and there for not train for it.

Clasic example
you employ and experienced and very safe worker from a labour hire company and donet remember to tell him/her that the saw bench has a problem with wet timber or anything conductive.

so it cost you $500.

I not saying the whole thig is bad...... just that it isnt all sweetness and light and the be all of saw bench safety.....ofter all it wont stop kickback which is the most common dangerous action arround saw benches and the injuries from kickback are potentilay much worse than loss of a few fingers.

cheers

Soundman you ignore SilentC's valid point that you ignore damage and 'replacement parts' to the sawyer, and now in this post you say there are standard industrial procedures for training but go on to argue that there really isn't that training in place because you forget to tell an employee that the saw has special requirements. So what is it to be? Either there is or isn't standard requirements for training. And why would it be so hard to modify the training manual to include the specifics of the machine?

Cheers
Michael

you employ and experienced and very safe worker from a labour hire company and donet remember to tell him/her that the saw bench has a problem with wet timber or anything conductive.

Surely that is covered in the site induction training that takes place whenever a new employee or contractor comes onto the work site.

I agree with Michael. You can't have it both ways. I think you are clutching at straws to support your argument. I don't think that "forgot to tell you" or "didn't realise" are phrases I'd like to hear from an employer concerning a machine that can put me in hospital.