Complancency and emotion can kill, or remove body parts if you are lucky.

I am the biggest offender here. Today, using a table saw I had a kick back that put my thumb on the saw blade. Luky for me, the blade height was only a couple of mm above the timber height as I usually set it. I was using a stick to push the timber through, but because the timber grabbed it pulled my hand back through the blade. The damage was minimal, but still required about 15 stiches to the pad of my thumb. Thats a lot of sticthing for a little area.



The problem with us tradies, is we often become complacent with tools. Use them everyday, get to used to it, mind drifts of for a second and then its all over. I have been using table saws for 20 odd years now and this is the first time I have had an incedent. I got off very, VERY lightly. A single lapse in concentration because the sister in laws kids were over mucking up and I got pissed off.



I rave about it to motorcyclists, being one myself, not to ride when you are tired, been drinking, when emotional. Same applies for power tools. I dont use them tired or pissed, and I made the mistake of using one today when I was annoyed.



Talking to the doctor who ficed me up, he had to work on a bloke who was a factory worker been using the same panel saw for 20 years. One day got distracted and put his whole hand accross the saw. Lost is hand as a result. Just single lapse in concentration.