"Woodworking machinery causes significantly more major injuries than machinery in any other industry ..." (source)

The one aspect of furniture production that can't be ignored is health and safety. When designers determine the form of each product's component, they are responsible for specifying production processes and materials. Management must then minimize the negative impacts of these technologies on workers' lungs, fingers, ears, eyes, etc., by providing adequate training, supervision and safety equipment.

Health hazards are a complex subject involving exposure to wood dust, toxic chemicals/finishes, noise and vibration (health); ungaurded machinery, non-ergonomic handling/procedures, poor waste management and fire/explosion (safety).

Table saw operations have one of the worst safety records (see below). VCR lists additional links to safety information (see sidebar) and the following worldwide government health and safety bodies provide invaluable information.

Table Saws in Small Shops

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that over 50 percent of UK furniture industry accidents occur in workplaces of under 25 employees, and 35 percent of accidents involve table/circular saws. These statistics are a wake-up call for smaller-scale wood furniture manufacturers in Canada. VCR urges full compliance with the HSE guidlines for the safe use of table/circular saws, which include:

• Table saws should be fitted with a suitable riving knife and blade gaurds.
• When ripping and cross cutting provide adequate work piece support, correctly position hands, use a push stick and appropriate adjustments for the riving knife and blade guard.
• Use push sticks for any cut less than 30 cms in length or when feeding the last 30 cms of a longer cut; also to remove cut pieces smaller than 15 cms.
• Provide adequate dust extraction below and above the table.
• Use jigs/holders where appropriate.
• A demountable power feed should be used whenever feasible.
• If an assistant is working at the back of the bench/table, use a table extension to ensure a distance of at least 1.2 m between the edge of the saw blade and the end of the table.
• A table saw is prohibited for rebating and grooving unless the blade is effectively guarded. This requires alternative guards and fixtures to adequately shield the saw blade.
• Stopped grooving should never be done on a table saw. This operation requires a vertical spindle moulder (shaper).