Non-SawStop Table Saw Injury Case

A student in woodshop class was ripping lumber on a table saw. He had been trained by the woodshop teacher regarding proper table saw safety practices. The student was interrupted by a classmate and amputated two fingers on his right hand. The woodshop teacher stabilized the injured student and rushed him to the hospital. Class was cancelled through the following day to allow time for a district risk manager to investigate the accident and for the school custodian to clean the saw. Following a day of emergency surgery, the student spent two additional days in the hospital. During his recovery, the insurance pool’s risk manager visited the student at home to obtain his explanation of the accident. The risk manger also interviewed the teacher, a student, and completed necessary accident report paperwork. The student had follow-up doctor visits and physical therapy during the 12 weeks following the accident.

The student’s parents, who learned of the SawStop technology, hired an attorney. On investigation, the attorney determined that the table saw’s blade guard was not attached to the saw at the time of the accident. The parents sued the school. Following a protracted legal negotiation, the district settled the suit out of court.

The costs associated with the accident are summarized here:

Although not every school table saw injury involves a lawsuit, many do. Here’s a small sampling of damages resulting from recent table saw accidents in California schools: