Issue 288

Issue 288

Your Opinion Counts

Rob-Portrait351As is obvious, the tie that binds the eZine faithful together is woodworking. Cutting boards apart and sticking them together: it’s the essence of woodworking. When you cut them apart, it’s highly likely that you’d be using a table saw … and that you’d have an opinion about such a tool.

You may recall that, in the Feedback section of eZine 286, we shared comments from participants in a Woodworker’s Journal survey about table saws. Well, there’s someone else who wants to hear your opinions about table saws, too: the federal government.

Currently, the Consumer Products Safety Commission is taking public comments about a proposed rule for safety standards regarding blade contact on table saws. They’re looking for feedback from the public — that means your opinions and information — on the risks associated with blade contact when using a table saw, on the CPSC’s regulatory options, and on the economic impacts of the various alternatives.

Among the alternatives they have listed for their proposed rulemaking are: a voluntary standard from the industry; a mandatory rule from the CPSC regarding table saw requirements; or a labeling rule listing specified warnings and instructions.

The deadline for the Consumer Products Safety Commission to receive public comments in advance of their rulemaking, is December 12, 2011 — less than a month away. You can send email comments through the site www.regulations.gov, or written comments (they ask for 5 copies, with the agency name and docket number — Docket No. CPSC-2011-0074) to Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814.

You can read further details about the proposed rulemaking and the request for comments here.

We know you have opinions, and we’re glad when you share them with Woodworker’s Journal. This time, we’d encourage you to share them with the CPSC as well.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

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