Comments on: Court Documents: Osorio Wasn't Using the Guard or Rip Fence

By: William Parker

William Parker — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:45:53 +0000

All I can say is, "Stupid is as stupid does, Forrest."

By: Ken Brucker

Ken Brucker — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:24:49 +0000

How’s this for an analogy: He removed the safety rails from his deck and sued the builder after falling off the edge. The deck was defective because it did not have motion detectors to detect a fall that would trigger an automatic safety net to catch someone before hitting the ground and breaking his neck.

First thing Ryobi needs to do is go get new lawyers! The ones they have are clearly incompetent!

I’m torn about getting a SawStop saw. The added potential safety is nice but I’d like to see #s on misfires due to wet wood or other factors.

Can someone sue Men’s Warehouse after they get shot because their suit didn’t have a bullet proof vest included? I have a new platform! All clothing should be impact proof to protect the wearer from stabbings and shootings. We have the technology, it’s well known and works… Am I missing how this would be a different liability case? Maybe that clothing manufacturers didn’t explore entering into a product agreement.

By: Greg DeLong

Greg DeLong — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:35:23 +0000

Damn Forrest Gump is right "Stupid is as Stupid does" If that sounds harsh I am sorry but after reading the facts i can’t ever imagine employing a man like that. Yes his boss was partially to blame IF he didnt properly teach his employee the right wat to operate any power tool, But as my dear Dad once said "YOU" are resposible for "YOUR" actions. I’ve been a woodworker a long time and yes i have some minor accidents and some major close calls but it was always laziness, stupidty, or just thinking i was a great woodworker that caused the incident. Now i try to keep my head clear and never rush a job. It works so far.
Greg

By: Robert Dennison

Robert Dennison — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:14:43 +0000

OH!, to have been on that jury and speak/vote !

This scenario is the the life blood of plaintiff attorneys, who manage to endear themselves and the plaintiff to the jury and go home with 40 to 50 % of the proceeds. They won’t take a case no matter how worthy unless the pockets are deep, with few and rare exceptions. And we pay the bill via the Manufacturer’s insurance costs.

Mistakes were made but NOT by Ryobi, as presented. "Stupid is as ….", they say.No machine is completely safe! Everybody is allowed one ‘little’ kickback but that’s all, and then it’s your problem.

I think appeals will correct this judicial error.
Bob

By: Bob Watt

Bob Watt — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:13:42 +0000

My father told me at a young age "only a poor workman blames his tools".
The employer is to blame not the tool manufacturer. While I sympathise with the injured man, I do not believe that Ryobi is at fault. I own the exact same model sawbench, and if I, and I hope I don’t, get injured from it, it will be my fault and no body elses.
For the life of me I cannot understand why anybody would want to use a ‘bench’ model on the floor. The moment the guy switched the thing on it was a recipe for disaster.
Methinks it is too easy to blame somebody else for one’s stupidity.

By: Noel

Noel — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:42:25 +0000

OH, OH.

I’m 51. I responded to your survey. Never had an accident/injury in working with a table saw over the past 30+ years I have used one as a home owner/DIY’er.

But I DID just complete my degree – and I am learning a foreign language while I work.

Does this mean I am destined to have an accident/injury with my power tools???

I spent 18 years in law enforcement and trust me, I saw a lot of dumb things people do.

But what caught my attention most was the "winners" statement: Yes, I took that piece off, because we didn’t use that piece only, I only use it when I have to make a straight cut.”

I have limited talent in the wood working area – I just use them to fix and build things around the house – i don’t build glamorous furniture and the like.

But, do I now need to buy a new, apparently secret jig, so I can make CURVED cuts on my tablesaw?

are you experts and pros not sharing all your secrets with us DIY’ers???? shame on you..

Cove cutting on a TS I have read about – but curved cuts???

Help us Obi Wan Kinobi!!! You are our only hope.
Noel

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:49:06 +0000

I think Norm Abram said it best before every episode of the New Yankee Workshop. "Be sure to READ, UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY RULES THAT COME WITH YOUR POWER TOOLS. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury."

I wouldn’t be surprised if this Osorio person wasn’t wearing safety glasses or hearing protection either. The worst thing is that Ryobi lost the case, so now we’ll all have to pay for his mistakes!

By: TOM MANVELL

TOM MANVELL — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:48:43 +0000

Sheer STUPIDITY On Several Counts
His Employer Should Be Held Accountable
Not Using The Saw Properly Should Get Ryobi Off
The Hook
In Canada We Have To Have A Responsibility Test
To Operate A Motor Boat Or A Motor Bike
Mabye U Should Have To Take A "Common Sense"
Test To Operate A Saw….
TOM M

By: sandylns

sandylns — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:25:44 +0000

A fool and his fingers are soon parted, to paraphrase a proverb. What was this company doing? What were the lawyers doing? One can only weep for Ryobi over this decision. Those of us who have been woodworkers all our lives and still have all our fingers, is because we followed ALL the safety instructions. This company and the individual broke every single rule of woodworking. To be rewarded for that is a true shame. OSHA and Ryobi must appeal this asinine verdict.

By: Paul Arnote

Paul Arnote — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:21:26 +0000

Where is personal responsibility in all of this? It is the responsibility of the end user to follow all safety warnings and rules when using ANY power tool.

While I feel badly for the guy for having a moment of poor judgment, my sorrow for his loss does not mean that I think he should receive financial compensation. It is the price you pay for ignoring all safety warnings and common sense safety rules.

As someone who is in the market for an new, affordable table saw, I personally wouldn’t mind paying a little extra for a saw that incorporated any of the new safety mechanisms to make that new saw safer, so that I can walk away from those times of "less than ideal judgment" with only a scrape or scratch. I am not a professional woodworker. Rather, I am a hobbyist, who enjoys building items for my personal enjoyment.

This lawsuit does not have to spell the end of the benchtop table saw. One of the saws I have been looking at is the SawStop contractor saw. It’s a bit more than what I would call the "affordable" price range, but then again, what is the cost for each of my appendages? Forget the cabinet saw by SawStop … it’s WAY too expensive for me, as a hobbyist.

But here’s another item to consider. No matter what safety devices are put into place on a table saw, there will ALWAYS be some clown out there that will find a way to disable that safety device, and who thinks they are above the safety warnings and rules for using that table saw.

Should benchtop table saws be eliminated from the market? I say no. But they can be made safer while keeping the cost affordable. With the lack of an affordable benchtop table saw, you will see users going back to making their own, homemade table saws with NO safety equipment. I know. My father had one that he had built in the 1950s from a couple of fan belt pulleys and an electric motor. It goes without saying that there were NO safety devices on this table saw, and all such homemade replacements will also be devoid of any safety devices as well.