Non- Events

I like this creative topic you started here. Unfortunetly I usualy have “events” not harmful to me but my project. I think non – everts should also be for safety of the project. For me the most recent non – event at my shop would be using a router. With the router I needed to cut a chamfer in a board with a dado along one edge. If I didn’t put a peice of wood in the dado I would have damaged the board by cutting too deep. Sorry thats the best I got. LOL.

-- Aaron - central California "If you haven't got the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?"

Hmmm. So I take it that Non-events are near misses… or potential misses of a dangerous event ? Our tools and our procedures for using those tools (whether taken for granted or not) are inherently loaded with our “plans” to master the potential and kinetic energy that could cause an “event”.

Even though almost the same thing you describe happened recently (mine was a slightly warped poplar glue-up), I do not consider that a Non-event because the magnetic featherboard, the push stick and my position behind the saw left me in control during the non-occurrence. There was not even one split second of Oops or Whew involved. That is why I had them in place / use (because of the possibility / eventual likelihood of such things happening).

No, I have no “Non-events” to report.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

Thnx for sharing that moment David. I had to do pretty much the same thing once, with, shutting down the saw like you explained. It was a very scary and awkward moment, and thankfully, no harm done, other than a little cosmetic boo-boo on the edge. I am, or, shall I say, try to be “safety-conscious” every time before I flip a switch on any power tool. Simple boo-boo’s can also happen with hand tools, if a person is not paying attention. Thnx for the post, and the reminder to everyone, just be careful. Happy & safe woodworking to all.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. Kentuk55@yahoo.com

Actually, a non-event is a miss and not a near miss. As comedian George Carlin would have said, a near miss is actually a hit :) David, what you described is a non-event. In my description, I did not lose control because precautions were in place. Nothing happened because they were. Thanks for the responses so far, keep them coming.

David

-- There is little that is simple when it comes to making a simple box.

I hope this counts.
I had a “non-event” yesterday. I pulled an all-nighter for work Friday night, driving a plow/salter truck. On Saturday, I was in such a fog, that I choose not to go into the WW shop. An accident was averted, by a tired zombie who choose not to operate anything that could cause pain or injury! The TV remote was dangerous enough!

-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow! If good things come to those who wait.... Why is procrastination a bad thing?

I plan a totally different dust control and splitter arrangement on my table saw. It is about half way done. But for the time being, I am stuck with the old guard. I modified that guard and splitter so I can literally take it off or put it on in under 30 seconds, usually about 20 seconds. That way, I always use the guard when it is feasible to use it. Needless to say, it requires no tools. I didn’t buy anything….....just used a couple of knobs I had in the shop. My saw is an old Delta Contractor’s saw with the bulky guard and splitter with pawls.

On my super sled, I have a stop, so that the sled is stopped before the blade can come through the bury block. This involved attaching a stop on the side of the saw, and having a stop on the sled.

Making safety easy, is a part of being safe.

-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska

David Craig, I am confused as to your definition of non-event. Was not the binding material an event? At work a guy dropped a wrench, it fell about thirty five feet. Had that wrench made contact with a worker below or scared a worker below into a reaction mistake of their own there could have been a recordable / reportable event. Even though no one was in the fall area, it was an event, it was a near miss.

I do agree that safety is of paramount importance, and reporting events in the could of, would of, should of, categories provides a valuable learning experience for us all. You have a very good topic, but I feel your definition of non-event is confusing.

I apologize for not being clear. Kind of a conceptual thing and I am not always the best at putting them into words. I will try and explain this a little better.

When people describe a near miss, they are usually talking about a moment of carelessness that didn’t result in a tragedy because they were lucky. Ooops, I left that ruler next to the saw blade, I turned my saw on and the ruler went flying by me, thank God no one was injured…

In my description, the non-event was binding of the wood (potential event) but because I had a splitter and hold downs in place, nothing happened. I was in control, the potential event of kickback did not occur (not a near miss because the board didn’t go flying and almost hit me). Not because I was lucky, but because I was using safety features in advance.

Does that make more sense?

-- There is little that is simple when it comes to making a simple box.

The guy dropped a wrench. It fell until it reached the end of the saftey lanyard it was attached to.

David, I agree these “non events” should be appreciated. -Jack