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Veteran tradesman cringes in horror

Dear editor, It was an interesting article in your paper (Record, Feb. 23) concerning the new Trades Training Centre at North Island College, a necessary facility, I'm sure.

Dear editor,It was an interesting article in your paper (Record, Feb. 23) concerning the new Trades Training Centre at North Island College, a necessary facility, I'm sure.But talk about a picture being worth a thousand words.Why is that fellow pushing a small piece of wood on the tablesaw with both hands within a few inches of the blade, and both the blade guard and push stick lying idly by on the table extension? As I type this letter one-handed, I can only cringe in horror.As someone who has used a tablesaw for more than 30 years, and almost daily for the past five, I know we get complacent, and that blade guards on most saws are cumbersome pieces that often get relegated to a drawer or the back wall. But in a training facility?Cuts like this become regarded as routine and something I have done a thousand times, but two weeks ago it suddenly wasn't so "routine" as that small piece of wood seemingly exploded, my hand took its place, and I lost two fingers, nearly three, at the top knuckles.Wake up, North Island College, before you are rudely woken up. At least use your push sticks, maybe a featherboard, and where are the earmuffs?I know I won't be the last woodworker to lose body parts, but please don't let the next one be one of your young students.Sam Knowles,Comox