CPSC proposes performance standard for table saws

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has determined preliminarily that there may be an unreasonable risk of blade-contact injuries associated with table saws. To address this hazard, the Commission proposes a rule under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) that would establish a performance standard that mandates the inclusion of patented active injury mitigation (AIM) technology in table saws, which would significantly increase manufacturing costs and potentially force small manufacturers out of the market. The AIM technology claims to limit the depth of cut to no more than 3.5 millimeters when a test probe, acting as surrogate for a human finger or other body part, approaches the spinning blade at a rate of 1 meter per second (m/s).

According to NAM Senior Director of Tax Policy, Alex Monié, bringing existing table saw models into compliance could cost manufacturers between $100,000 to $700,000 per model and require up to three years.

Despite the presence of voluntary safety standards for table saws, which utilize modular blade-guard systems, the CPSC's proposed rule could establish a monopoly by favoring a specific patented technology. Groups such as the NAM have argued that the proposed standard lacks justification under the Consumer Product Safety Act, as the CPSC has not demonstrated that existing voluntary standards inadequately address the risk of injury.

In light of these concerns, NFFS believes that the CPSC should withdraw the proposed standard and reassess its cost and burden analysis, particularly focusing on the impact on small manufacturers. This move aims to safeguard the interests of small manufacturers and ensure that regulatory measures align with the needs and capabilities of the manufacturing industry.