What is Saw Stop Technology?

In 2000, Dr. Stephen Gass developed flesh-detection technology known as Saw Stop. Saw Stop passes an electrical current through the saw blade. If the current detects contact with skin, it deploys a blade brake to stop the rotation of the blade in roughly 3-5 milliseconds. The difference in the level of injury to the operator is enormous. Without Saw Stop, the operator will likely lose a finger or suffer another type of serious injury. With Saw Stop, the operator will only receive a nick.

You are probably asking: why hasn't this technology been implemented on every table saw on the market? Good question. Dr. Gass has approached the major saw manufacturers but they have refused to incorporate the technology claiming it would destroy the market for cheap saws. The manufacturers also do not want to have to pay to license Gass' technology.

As a result, Gass has lobbied the Consumer Product Safety Commission to adopt a standard requiring a blade brake be incorporated into table saws. To date, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been unwilling to implement a standard but court cases and public support may ultimately achieve the desired result.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a table saw accident, one of our award-winning lawyers will review your case, answer your questions and clearly explain your legal options. At the Law Offices of John Day, we handle all table saw cases on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we recover money for you. We have recovered well over $100 million for our satisfied clients and we would like to help you and your family too.

Contact us online or call us anytime at 615-742-4880 or toll-free at 866.812.8787.