Table Saws Sold in California Would Need to Include Flesh-Detecting Technology

Table saws sold in California after jan. 1, 2015 would need to include flesh-detecting technology integrated to an electronic saw blade brake, under proposed legislation. California's State Assemblyman Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) introduced a bill Feb. 24, 2012, AB 2218 Table Saw Safety Act, that would require saw blade safety technology, using a description similar to the technology sold by SawStop. The comment period for the legislation ends March 16. A number of table saw manufacturers, many of them members the Power Tool Institute - an advocacy and trade group - have taken a position against the legislation, and against similar table saw safety rules being considered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Woodworking equipment and table saw manufacturer Delta Machinery issued a statement on the California legislation: Many of you have heard about and voiced your opinion in various forums and postings regarding the potential requirement for “Flesh Detecting Technology” on every table saw. Recently,a bill that would REQUIRE this technology on every table saw sold in California (AB 2218 Table Saw Safety Act) was introduced in the California Assembly by Assemblyman Das Williams (D- Santa Barbara). If you are not in favor of this movement to control your table saw choices, now is the time to voice your concerns to Assemblyman Williams and the other members of the California Assembly. As you have seen in many cases before, California legislative decisions quickly pass to other states, and most products are designed for national distribution, so if this law passes, it may affect the design of products sold in every state. Separately, the comment period for the CPSC Table Saw safety rules ends March 16. Source: woodworkingnetwork.com