I worked one summer at the same factory as my dad. One day I was operating a cutting machine and my dad came by because I wasn’t wearing any safety equipment. He suggested (not told) to wear the gear but I refused because no one else uses it. He said thats fine, it’s my choice but he suggested I walk around the factory floor and count how many workers had all their fingers. I put on the safety equipment. Later on while having lunch with the two other guys in our area I noticed both were missing fingers.
If you’re careful you may never need the protection a seat belt provides. It’s still foolish and risky to go without it. Table saw guards, etc. are the same.
I worked one summer at the same factory as my dad. One day I was operating a cutting machine and my dad came by because I wasn’t wearing any safety equipment. He suggested (not told) to wear the gear but I refused because no one else uses it. He said thats fine, it’s my choice but he suggested I walk around the factory floor and count how many workers had all their fingers. I put on the safety equipment. Later on while having lunch with the two other guys in our area I noticed both were missing fingers.
I worked for less than a week at a cedar shake and shingles mill: it takes trees and cuts them into fat shingles.
I was promoted when the guy above me put the pneumatic splitter through his hand.
The guy above my new position near-missed with a band saw: it bit into his arm but only about a millimeter.
On day three a cut saw operator lost the last joint of three fingers.
I told the foreman I was leaving. He nodded in understanding.
I actually, um…may not have any of the guards on my table saw for months now.
You do use a riving knife still though…right?
Yep, that’s still on there. No reason to remove that.
How many fingers have you lost in that time?
I’ve never had any major injuries.
If you’re careful you may never need the protection a seat belt provides. It’s still foolish and risky to go without it. Table saw guards, etc. are the same.
Yeah absolutely. It has to come off occasionally because some things just won’t fit with the guards. But leaving it off is stupid.
At what point would a smack to the head be warranted to prevent harm?
You dad did the right thing, but dang. I suggest you don’t make dance tik toks next to this active tree size buzz saw.