“I immediately knew something happened…I looked down and my fingers were gone.”

–Cody Simmons It’s quite likely the most terrifying thing a woodworker’s spouse ever hears: I’ve had a bad accident. That’s what Cody Simmons had to say to his wife, Shiloh, when he suffered an accident on the table saw in his garage workshop. “I told her to call 911, went back into the garage, and…

A Split Second Can Drastically Change Your Life

Black Friday took on a whole new meaning for JS (name withheld). He was working in his home shop the day after Thanksgiving, ripping a narrow piece of walnut on his contractor saw, with only the riving knife in place for safety. His right hand was gripping a push stick to push the wood forward…

One little slip, one mistake can change your life forever 

When you hear that a table saw injury can be drastically life-altering, you can’t really appreciate what that means until you live it. Dennis Melton lives it. The Portland, Oregon man suffered a workplace injury that forever changed his life. 

“I’m not whole anymore. I had a part of me that…I don’t have anymore. And I can’t get it back”

SawStop

Patrick Callahan was working at his stone and countertop production business in 1998, cutting Corian (a synthetic material used for countertops) on a contractor-style table saw—without the blade guard in place—for a custom job. Unfortunately, the Corian rode up on the blade, then snapped back down and shattered, pulling Patrick’s left hand—his dominant hand—into the blade. Instantly, he suffered severe injuries to his thumb and two fingers. 

Table Saw Accident Victims

These woodworkers have honored us with their stories. Please take a moment to listen.

David Stivelman testimonial 

David Stivelman had to learn to care for his newborn son just nine months after suffering a horrific accident in his home woodworking shop. The accident cost him half of the index finger on his right hand, as well as permanently damaging two other fingers.