Nonoccupational table saw-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 1990-2007

Table saws are associated with more injuries than any other type of woodworking tool. There are no published national epidemiologic studies of table saw-related injuries.

A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1990 to 2007. Sample weights provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were used in all analyses to adjust for the inverse probability of case selection and make national projections regarding table saw-related injuries.

An estimated 565,670 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 473,442-657,898) table saw-related injuries were treated in US Emergency Departments from 1990 to 2007. Children (younger than 18 years) were more likely to be injured at school (p < 0.01; relative risk = 68.79; 95% CI: 46.58-101.61), whereas adults were more likely to be injured at home (p < 0.01; relative risk = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.82-2.32). Fingers/thumbs were injured most often (86%; 486,181 of 565,670) and lacerations were the most common type of injury (66%; 373,319 of 565,360). Amputations were associated with 10% (56,848 of 565,360) of the injuries, and most of the amputations involved the finger/thumb (56,817 of 56,848). Eight percent (47,916 of 565,458) of patients were hospitalized.

Most table saw-related injuries result from contact with the saw blade. Passive injury prevention strategies focusing on preventing finger/thumb/hand contact with the blade need to be implemented.