PITTSBURGH - An “unreasonably dangerous” table saw caused disfiguring injuries to a Pennsylvania man in 2018, according to a lawsuit against the tool’s manufacturer, Black & Decker.
Glynn D. Smith, a construction worker, was cutting wood when the table saw sliced his right hand, damaging fingers and tendons and requiring surgery, according to the complaint.
“Table saws are the most dangerous woodworking tool in the United States,” resulting in 50,000 injuries each year, the lawsuit said.
Black & Decker could have used a safer alternative design for the saw that would have prevented the injury, but did not, the suit, filed Jan. 17 in Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, alleges. It seeks unspecified financial damages.
The suit cites “active injury mitigation” systems for saws as an example of technology that could have prevented Smith’s injury. The so-called “AIM” technology has been available since 2004, the suit said.
The defendant removed the case to federal court on Feb. 17.
Smith v. Black & Decker (U.S.) Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County, PA. 2:20-cv-00246