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SawStop Inventor Walks the Walk

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Worm-drives vs. sidewinders? A conversation with Larry Haun.

That Can't Be Safe! A Visit to the Shingle Mill

john ross, producer

67 users recommend

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That can’t be safe!

I’ve had my fair share of industrial labor jobs. Now I look back and count myself lucky that each one of those jobs was relatively safe. Until recently, I took for granted how seriously safety issues are regarded in America’s work places.

Even though my grandfather died on an industrial construction site, I didn’t realize how far we’ve come with job-site safety until, as research for an article, I visited a shingle mill.

I was astonished at how dangerous it looked.  This is not a slam against the owners of the mill. They were very kind for inviting me in. Their product was top notch and they assured me that they had routine safety inspections and their record was very good.

However, I couldn’t stop thinking that it looked incredibly dangerous.

I saw the below video on Youtube -- uh, during my lunch break -- and was struck by how casual the guy operating the saw looks. It gives me the shivers. Shouldn’t there be some guard around that blade?

I now officially take back any swearing, cussing, cursing, obscene diatribes, or other uncomplimentary utterances I have made concerning the stupidity and inconvenience of seemingly excessive safety regulations.

Want to see a more REALLY BIG saw blades?  Click here for a slide show of my saw mills tour.

posted in: Blogs

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Comments (9)

MeasureThrice writes: I'm not saying that this is something that I'd want to do, but notice that his hand never goes anywhere near the teeth of the blade.

IF, and I can't really tell, the middle of the saw blade is totally solid, then he is "relatively" safe.

Now is there room for improvement here? You bet!

I thought I saw him make a small miss-step while picking up a new log. Imagine what would happen if he fell into the blade! Posted: 5:14 pm on July 6th

MikeGuertin writes: I have standing invites from the owners of two shingle mills; one in BC and Quebec. The companies are top of their league and employ the most efficient and safe methods according to the staff. I've only heard stories of the saws and their description matches what's on the video. The only difference is that the guy seems to be moving pretty slow. It's piece work- paid by volume and he's moving pretty slow.

I suppose if you showed the sawyers videos of us using nail guns and sidewinder circ saws they'd think we were crazy too. Posted: 10:05 pm on June 16th

Mad Jack Flint writes: Scritch beat me to it, but Dirty Jobs shows that machine. It is quite nerving. Add Mike Lowe and it's funny and nerving. Posted: 10:47 am on June 15th

scritch writes: The show "Dirty Jobs" had an episode where the host visited a shingle and shake mill. They had the scariest woodcutting tools I have ever seen, bar none. I believe the worst (to me) was the bandsaw where the sawyer cut a board into two shakes, cutting the board on edge, corner to corner. One slip and no hand! Posted: 10:14 am on June 15th

captaindon writes: Ugh! If this was a forwarded attachment from an e-mail, I would expect to see the guy's hand flying off at the end of the video. Definitely third-world country dangerous! This mill is in America? Where the heck is OSHA if it is??? Posted: 9:14 am on June 15th

fulmerwoodworking writes: Guys, I remember seeing a video like this long years ago, wait I think it was on this old house. Bob Vila travels to the shingle factory to see where the wood shakes come from. Posted: 6:04 am on June 15th

fresco writes: Very scary. They need to update a safety devise that will allow production as well as protecting the worker. Posted: 3:03 am on June 15th

bobbys writes: I live in Oregon and although most of the old timers have passed on to the great shingle mill in the sky many had no fingers!!! Posted: 5:45 pm on June 13th

JimmyJim writes:
Bet that place is a bit loud. Hearing protection? Creeped me out a bit as well-hope there's a hospital near by. I've seen other shingle movies, but they were in Canada. Posted: 3:43 pm on June 10th

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