If you are a New York City carpenter or construction worker, using power tools is a part of your daily repertoire. Do you realize how deadly they can be if not used properly and with the correct safety equipment?
Below are four potentially deadly power tools which must be used with extreme caution.
Circular saws
The violent kickback and swiftly whirling blades of circular saws make them a real hazard. The outermost blade spins at roughly 120 mph, which can wreak havoc on the body.
To minimize the danger, wear your safety glasses and make sure that you clamp down the piece to be cut. The depth of the blade should be set so the top of the saw’s teeth only stick up a little bit from surface of the piece.
Chain saws
In its 1999 research study, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) determined that more than 28,5000 injuries from chain saws were reported annually. Five years later, that total had jumped up more than 32,000. An average injury involving a chain saw results in around 110 stitches.
Skip the stitches by wearing special chaps that are resistant to the blades, along with steel-toed boots and special gloves.
Table saws
Some of the more advanced versions utilize technology that is able to detect human tissue. These table saws are safer because they stop penetrating at that point. Considering that table saws cause roughly 60k injuries annually and that nearly 3,000 of those injuries are amputations, that’s a vital feature.
For those who work with other versions, using a featherboard can prevent traumatic injuries to hands and fingers by moving the piece to be cut forward. As with all power tools, safety glasses should be worn when working with a table saw.
Nail guns
The compressed air used in nail guns causes nails to shoot out at impressive speeds to easily penetrate hardwood surfaces. That means they can also penetrate the human body too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, injuries from nail guns have almost doubled in the last 16 years.
To be safer, protect your eyes and keep the nail gun locked in sequential mode.
If you sustained injuries from power tools at work, you may need to file a claim for compensation.
Source: Popular Mechanics, “The 5 Most Dangerous Tools, And How To Use Them Safely,” Doug Mahoney, accessed Nov. 24, 2017
