Ruyu (Lucy) Bai, Brendan Gwyn Deere, Ivan Jovanovic, Kristian Plakaris, Thomas Smyth, Jimmie Tan
Occupational Safety and Health Administration has documented that from 2001 to 2010, table saw related injuries is accounted for 1.9billion dollars in health care costs annually. In these injuries, 83% are due to operator’s contact with the saw blade. The SafeShop team wants to explore the market potential of these operational safety issues and as a result, developed the SafeShop system. The SafeShop system is an economically advantageous and non-destructive safety system that prevents operator injuries due to unintentional blade contact. This system is made up of a sensory and a blade retraction mechanism. A sensor will detect the speed at which the operator’s hand is approaching the saw blade. If the sensor predicts an injury, a signal will release the latch, and activate the mechanical component that retracts the saw blade below the working surface. Thus, the SafeShop system successfully prevents contact related table saw injuries.