The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in regards to table saws and their safety standards.
According to recent news sources, it’s estimated that consumers’ injuries number at about 67,300 in relation to serious hand and finger injuries resulting from table saw use. The cost for these injuries is about $2.36 billion annually. Those numbers are based on reports from 2007 and 2008. Daily, CPSC estimates that 8 avulsions, 11 fractures, and 11 amputations occur from table saws.
After the Commission publishes the proposed safety improvements, the public has 60 days to comment.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I know that these improvements will help cut back on injuries enormously. While I’m aware that it may make the cost of a table saw go up, I’m also aware that product–related injuries cost about $900 billion annually. In my experience as a product liability lawyer, I think safety is of the utmost important when it comes to products like the table saw. If you or someone you know has been injured by a faulty product, it’s in your best interest to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the legal options available to you and your loved ones.