Woodworking Tool Safety Stats and Facts

FACTS

  1. One of the most common tools in woodworking shops is the most dangerous among all. A table saw is a tool for making all types of cuts on the wood. A common injury is the problem of kickback.
  2. Circular Saw is among the most popular woodworking tools because it is portable and even DIY hobbyists can use it with ease. The blade that spins around 5000 RPM at a power of around 2 horsepower.
  3. Nail Guns are a more efficient way of getting framing and roofing jobs done. Instead of hammering down nails on wood pieces, it is quicker and easier to use a nail gun to do the job. Most of the injuries using a nail gun have been reported on the hands and fingers as puncture wounds.
  4. The common reason for a power drill mishap is when it is either underpowered or if it catches a knot in the wood and you’re not paying good attention to your work.
  5. The angle grinder can lead to freak accidents. The angle grinder can send out debris flying as it works on the wood and even if you’re holding it perfectly, it can still cause kickback issues.
  6. A jointer is invaluable when you’re looking to flatten wooden boards. Injuries on jointers are more likely to be very severe. Amputations are more common in injuries with a jointer.

STATS

  • Woodworking equipment produces approximately 720,000 injuries per year often causing severe psychologic and functional impairment.
  • Responses from 1000 injured woodworkers to a demographic survey revealed that 60.5% of injuries occurred to amateur woodworkers;
  • 42% of injuries were caused by the table saw and 37% of respondents reported amputation of one or more digits.
  • The most significant causal factor reported was failure to use properly installed guards, but personal factors, such as fatigue and postprandial somnolence were also implicated.
  • Twenty-seven percent of respondents required hospitalization for an average of 3.7 days, and 22.8% were treated by hand surgeons.
  • More than 3,500 woodworking injuries each year are caused by band saws.
  • Jointers, Planers, and Other Machinery: estimated 10,930 annual injuries