Table Saw Accident Statistics

In 2003 the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that  “93,880 saw-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms”. Of these 52,000 (55%) involved stationary saws (table saw 38,000 (73%), miter saw 7,640 (15%), band saw 4060 (8%), and radial arm saw 2,300 (4%).

The average age of injured party was 51 years old. The average size of the work piece was 2 ft long x 6 in wide by 1 inch depth.The vast majority of accidents occur while ripping.  There does not seem to be a correlation on the type of blade being used at the time the accident occured.

As expected, the hand motion was predominatly in a push position when the accident occured.

And the mechanism of injury was generally from the hand contacting the saw blade.

One factor in saw blade accidents is the unpredictabliliy of wood and saw as is shown in the final chart describing whether the hand was moved into the blade, kickback caused the hand to fall into the blade or another method of contact.

The final chart show the percentage of accidents that occured when guards were installed.  Another interesting statistic is that 9% of the injuries occured when anti-kickback safety devices were in place.