Safety switch

[Randy in Dartmouth]

Sometimes when I'm in the shop, my 5 year old or one of his playdate buddies will wander in. The big red and green pushbuttons on my tablesaw and router table are front and centre, and invite to be pushed. Just on Friday, my sons little buddy comes out and before I could turn around, presses the start button on the saw.

Fortunately, I have installed a heavy duty safety switch ($20 at my local reclamation yard) which I have developed a habit of keeping in the OFF position. It disconnects both hot lines to my saw and router station. I use it when I'm changing blades or bits (more convenient than unplugging) and when I am not using the tools.

http://www.accesscable.com/~rgillard/safety.JPG
http://www.accesscable.com/~rgillard/router.JPG
Something to consider if your shop is accessible to "unauthorised" entry.

Cheers

Randy

[Doug in Little Spain (Pr.]

I agree with the need to be sure that tools are disconnected.

I have all my machines running on cords and plugs. I feel better when I can see the end of the cord plug sitting on the extension table when I am changing blades.

As for your son's 5 year old friend who turns on saws as if they were toys, I believe some training is required. A five year old is quite capable of knowing not to touch, and if not, needs to be taught or excluded from your shop.

It's my experience that the same parent who has not taught his/her child to leave things alone will be extremely upset to find he could have hurt himself on your saw. It's as if the world should be set up to protect his/her child.

[Randy in Dartmouth]

Hi Doug,

Your forceful condemnation of the child's behaviour (and his parents parenting skills) assumes certain norms of development, which are not the case in this situation.

Hence my extra precautions like safety switches, plus other rules and procedures in my house that attempt to limit exposure to dangerous tools by unknowing little hands.

Cheers

Randy

[Ken in Regina]

You and Doug are both right, Randy. As Doug says, in the general case it's worthwhile for parents to make sure their children understand that there are things they simply shouldn't mess with. Too many parents today completely abdicate from setting any limits for their offspring.

On the other hand, good on you for recognizing that there are always exceptions. You simply cannot safely assume that other parents in the neighborhood have trained their children to always behave safely, if for no other reason than they have no workshop of their own, and no similar place to provide relevant experiences for their kids. And some kids simply are not as capable as others of "getting it".

As a parent of a developmentally challenged child, I understand exactly what you are trying to achieve in your own environment and I applaud it.

[Randy in Dartmouth]

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

Good thinking.
All my tools are on lighted load bars. The bars are left off whenever a tool is not in use. Before turning on a load bar. I check all equipment on it to ensure the switch is off (don't want any surprises).
Before leaving the shop , after I turn out the lights, I have a look around. If any of the load bars are left on, I can clearly see the light in the switch.
J.P.

[Geo in Winnipeg]

You're correct Randy. You have an excellent plan there with the safety switch. I'm going to follow it - I have grandkids. But Doug does have a point regarding the parenting. There was a man who lived close to my father years ago (maybe 15) who whined and complained trying to solicit names on a petition. He lived on a corner lot and he wanted a 4-way stop sign installed. The reason? It was too dangerous for his kids to play in the street without one!! That was the reason he gave my dad when he came looking for a signature (dad didn't sign). There was an elementary school with a huge playground right behind his house!! I hope he didn't have any power tools. Oh, he did eventually get the stop sign. A good example of someone not "training their children".

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

Its not just kids and up-bringing.
You may recall Gords post a while back.
I don't think that was a kid in his shop.
J.P.

[JasonD]

You guys unplug tools when changing blades? Sorry, I know this thread was from 2004, but it took me this long to type this with my stubs where my fingers used to be :D

[Yeti]

You guys unplug tools when changing blades? Sorry, I know this thread was from 2004, but it took me this long to type this with my stubs where my fingers used to be :D

Just about peed my pants laughing at that reply Jason. Thanks for kick starting my day!

I'd "high-five" you, but.....

[JasonD]

Just about peed my pants laughing at that reply Jason. Thanks for kick starting my day!

I'd "high-five" you, but.....


Oops.. never thought about the PC :) But it wasnt meant to offend anyone, just make a few happy they do unplug ;)

[billh]

Anybody who thinks they can train young children to not turn on devices with any degree of reliability shouldn't be using sharp tools themselves. They, of course, should be taught but there also has to be a method to avoid young, curious minds.

Real good way is to have a sub-panel dedicated to shop power with a disconnect switch. When the children get older it is good to have a locking disconnect.

billh

[JasonD]

I just have a garage attached to the house.., but I keep a lock on the door to the shop. The kids know not to go in there alone either. I also make sure everything is 100% unplugged even if I leave for 5 minutes. Because it only takes a second.

[Rick Thom]

I do generally unplug machines when changing bits and blades etc. None of my machines have mag switches, which i would definitely prefer, so when I plug them in I need to be absolutely sure they are in the OFF position.
I personally don't like any distractions when the machines are running.

[NTM]

I had the same concerns while laying out and organizing my new shop area. I built a central island which provides a large layout area. In addition, I mounted my power tool work centers; Table saw, Router table, Band saw, etc., around the perimeter. As part of a 60 amp sub service to the island, I installed a panel of circuit breakers. Each work center has a dedicated circuit with its breaker. The panel is mounted at shoulder height within arm’s length of and facing the perimeter.

I use the circuit breaker switches as safety switches. Fault protection with risk control.

NTM

p.s. You still need good habits about their use!