I've been thinking about the "Splitter" thread and an issue
it raised regarding the safe use of tools, be they hand or
power tools and advice solicited and advice given on the
subect. One participant, apparently a very experienced
and gifted woodworker with a lot of skills and knowledge of
woodworking tools and their uses, recommended against ever
using a splitter. Several others, myself included, felt
that recomendation was an irresponsible thing to do and gave
reasons why. The best thing that thread produced was the
point that each of us is his/her best safety device.

But I've been mulling over the issue of shop safey and safe
practices. I think that it's a matter of risk management.
To evaluate the risks of a particular action one must
a) know what the risks are, as much as is reasonably
possible, and the consequences should something go
wrong
b) know what devices, methods/procedures, if any, are
available to reduce the risks
c) know what knowledge, skills and abilities are required
to properly use such devices, methods/procedures
d) know the knowledge, skills and abilities of the person
who will perform the action
e) keep accurate, up to date records of accidents that do
occur and analyze each incident to identify what
went wrong and what, if anything, can be done about it

In that context I was recalling my early days behind the
wheel of a car. By today's standards, my little Ford Falcon
was a potential death trap - no seat belts or air bag(s), a
stearing wheel waiting to spear me, no side mirrors, no
headrest, no disc brakes, no ABS, no radial tires, lots of
knobs and switches to puncture tissue, no padded dash and
I doubt that it had safety glass. Add to that a 16 year old kid
who was certain he knew everything AND was immortal.

Now imagine that this young, inexperienced driver writes a letter
to a car magazine asking what the best way to turn a corner is.
And imagine that Sterling Moss, perhaps the best race car
driver of his era, responds to his question, assuming the question
is being asked by a newbie race car driver. And let's also
assume that "the kid" doesn't know Sterling Moss from Grandma
Moses, but takes Sterling's advice and turns a corner using
that advice....

(for those unfamiliar with Sterling Moss - the guy made
race cars do things they theoretically couldn't do - on
many, many occassions. He ended his career after going
into a turn 20-30 mph faster than he should have -
hitting a wall and wrapping the car around himself. When
the rescue people got to him and started cutting him out
of the car, one half of his body was trying to downshift while
the other side of his body was trying to get out of the car - he
was unconscious at the time. After 6-8 months in the hospital,
he returned to the same track where the accident occured and,
in the same type of car, ON A WET TRACK, he beat the track lap
record. Only then did he retire from professional racing because
he felt he was holding back.)

Now let's look at the risk management thing in this context.

a) know what the risks are, as much as is reasonably
possible, and the consequences should something go
wrong

A 16 year old seldom evaluates risks and consequences
are what other people experience because they're
stupid.

b) know what devices, methods/procedures are available
to reduce the risks

If a 16 year old new driver knows where to look for
the brake fluid resevoir it's a miracle. "Dipstick"
- that's a term applied to a real idiot. Speed limits,
what speed limits? Brakes squeeling must mean
they're really grabbin' good. Smokin' your tires
is awesome.

c) know what knowledge, skills and abilities are required
to properly use such devices, methods/procedures

"I got my license so I know how to drive."

d) know the the knowledge, skills and abilities of the person
who will perform the action

With the above context, now how do you think Sterling
Moss would respond?

The Wreck is a very diverse group with a broad range
of ages, knowledge, skills, abilities and experience levels.
It's also a place where "short and sweet" is the form of most
questions and answers. And there's the rub - advice given
and advice taken should be in a context - for both the
advice giver and the advice receiver. This has become
even more important now that some new folks in the group
are posting trolls which may contain really bad advice
just to get a troll/flame thread going.

So if you're going to ask advice about shop safety, shop
safety devices or safe practices, please give readers
some idea of your level of knowledge and experience
in woodworking, even if it's as simple as newbie,
intermediate, advanced, full time furniture maker etc..
If you're going to respond to a safety question, please
keep in mind the experience level of the questioner
when you respond and some idea of your qualifications.
You might also want to mention how many full fingers
and thumbs you have, along with other info that might
help the reader to evaluate what type of risk taker
you are.

daclarke provided just such info in one of his later
posts in the "splitter" thread.
"I can tell you, the last time I cut myself on the tablesaw
was aboutfifteen years ago. I felt that tingle, looked down
and saw that if I pulled my hand out I would loose the piece,
it would kick back and be ruined, or I could take that corner
off my thumb and loose a little skin and blood.
What do you think I did?"

I don't know what he did but I do know that I'm not going to
knowinlgy let any part of my body get that close to a spinning
table saw blade. If I unkowingly find that I have a choice
of losing a piece of wood or losing a piece of myself I'll
kiss off the piece of wood in a new york minute. But I
won't have to worry much about the board kicking back
because I've used stock controlling devices and I'm
standing out of the line of fire. But hey - that's just
my choice. Maybe when I've been doing this for 15+
years I won't value my body parts, even small parts, as much
as my wood. You'll make your own choices.

charlie b