Radial Arm Saws
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Communication & Entertainment · CPSC Code 843
Down 20% over 5 years
The verdict
Radial Arm Saws carry a danger score of 32/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 341 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 20% over the last five years.
- 32/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 341
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 12.1%
- end in hospital admission
- 65-74
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 843 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 32/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for radial arm saws - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume341 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)12.1%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-20%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Radial Arm Saws (CPSC product code 843, in the Home Communication & Entertainment category) generate an estimated 341 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 6,822 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 32/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 20% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2008 (940 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2012 (71 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for radial arm saws is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 2,625 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by fracture to the finger (995 cases). The 65-74 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 1,672 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 12.1% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 5 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how radial arm saws fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-14 | 71 | 16 | |
| 15-24 | 435 | 72 | |
| 25-34 | 72 | 0 | |
| 35-44 | 836 | 0 | |
| 45-54 | 863 | 0 | |
| 55-64 | 1,410 | 105 | |
| 65-74 | 1,607 | 65 | |
| 75+ | 1,187 | 77 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Finger | Amputation | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Finger | Avulsion | |
| Eyeball | Foreign Body | |
| Wrist | Laceration | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Hand | Fracture | |
| Lower Arm | Fracture | |
| Upper Leg | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Finger | Crushing |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
81YOM WAS USING A RADIAL ARM SAW TO CUT SOMETHING WHEN THE BLADE STRUCK THE LEFT HAND. DX: HAND LACERATION.
40YOM WAS CUTTING A BRANCH WITH A RADIAL ARM SAW WHEN THE BRANCH CAME DOWN AND CRUSHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE BRANCH AND A SOFT FRAME DX: OPEN FRACTURE OF THE LEFT 2ND FINGER
58YOM REPORTS USING 12 INCH RADIAL SAW AND PULLED FINGER INTO BLADE DX OPEN FX FINGER; AMPUTATION FINGER
75 YOF-TRYING TO REMOVE WOOD FROM RADIAL SAW-CUT FINGER DX: COMPLEX FINGER LACERATION
15 YOF CUT FOREARM ON RADIAL SAW AT TRADE SCHOOL. DX FOREARM LACERATION
75YOM WAS USING A RADIAL ARM SAW THAT HIT HIS FINGER. DX FX FINGER
72YOM CUT HAND WHILE USING RADIAL TABLE SAW AT HOMEDX LACERATIONS TO HAND AND FINGERS
56YOM WAS USING A RADIAL ARM SAW AND THE SOCK CAUGHT A PIECE OF WOOD AND PULLED HIS THUMB INTO THE SAW APPROX TWO HOURS AGO DX: OPEN COMMINUTED FRACTURE TO THE LEFT THUMB, LEFT THUMB LACERATION
60YOF CUT LEFT THUMB WHILE USING RADIAL ARM SAW. DX: LACERATION OF THUMB
66YOM WAS USING A RADIAL ARM SAW WHEN IT KICKED BACK STRUCK HIM IN THE LEFT HAND DX: LACERATION HAND
75 YOM C/O PAIN FROM USING AN ARM SAW. DX RIGHT ELBOW AND HAND PAIN
66YOM AMPUTATED 3 FINGERS ON RADIAL SAW WHEN HE LOOKED AWAY FROM THE SAW DX AMPUTATION OF FINGERS
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Due to a computer snafu, you might already have received this report. Nevertheless, here it goes again: Certain Sears Craftsman power tools have safety switches which theoretical cannot power the tool with the key removed. The safety switch on my radial-arm saw has a two-pronged plastic key. The tool operates with only one prong inserted in the switch. I was not aware that one prong had broken off the key and remained in the switch when I thought I was removing the key. The prong remaining in the switch was hardly noticeable. I removed the prong from the switch with a little difficulty but the saw still operates with the single prong remaining on the key. It would have operated with the broken prong still in the switch. I suggest the switch be redesigned either a) requiring both prongs be present to activate the switch, or b) the key be made of metal.
The caller stated that he was injured at a work place with the radial arm saw that was part of Release # 01-031. He stated that while using a piece of wood broke and because there was no guards it caused the wood to lacerate two of his fingers. The second time the piece of wood projected towards his face, he received lacerations to his nose. The caller had to seek medical attention for his fingers because his finger tips were cut off. The caller is concerned that someone else would be injured because of this product.
Had turned saw OFF and accidently moved my hand into the blade as I was going to pick up a piece of wood. I spent the rest of the day at the hospital.
One Harbor Freight item number 61970 (aka other stock numbers) 12" Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with laser guide. This item was purchased and used AS PER PROVIDED INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS. The item has no minimum length of material specified it can cut. During cutting of tall short wood blocks, the upper fence deflects. This is an inherent design flaw. When this occurs the wood will twist causing binding with the blade. The result is the wood piece is ejected at high speed behind the saw, breaking the upper fence in the process. A [REDACTED] from Harbor Freight was contacted at [REDACTED] and notified of this flaw. He denied any such flaw exists with it and offered an exchange of the product. He never followed through to honor the exchange. This flaw can be seen in any existing floor model on display in any store. Simply apply rearward pressure to the top half of the fence nearest the area of cut. Unacceptable deflection will be seen. Please intervene before a child watching his father work is hurt or killed by insisting they recall existing models for modification and/or ban further sales of it in the US (Imported product).
Just got electrocuted using a Sears replacement part as the replacement part connects 120V hot to chassis ground. I ordered a 971665-001 switch directly from the Sears Parts Direct website to replace the switch on my Craftsman 10 inch radial arm saw, Model 315.220100. The original switch had to be replaced because it quit working. The replacement switch has a screw on the outside of the switch case that directly connects 120V hot to chassis ground when the handle that covers the screw is re-assembled onto the machine after the switch has been replaced. The picture on their website shows the original switch that came with the unit...that is fine. They have replaced this switch with one that has a screw on the outside that connects to 120v. This is the third switch that I have purchased from Sears and they all kept failing on me...now I know why.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to radial arm saws on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are radial arm saws?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, radial arm saws have a danger score of 32/100 (low risk). An estimated 341 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from radial arm saws?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 2,625 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from radial arm saws increasing or decreasing?
Down 20% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for radial arm saws injuries?
The 65-74 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 1,672 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by radial arm saws?
Of all ER visits involving radial arm saws, approximately 12.1% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (87.9%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with radial arm saws?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Communication & Entertainment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 32/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 65-74 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
