38
Wednesday, July 8, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
WARD: Man is studying
for nursing career if
hand allows
Continued from page 1
Ward is pursuing a career
in nursing, hoping that the
condition of his hand will
allow it. And he’s involved in
a national effort to make sure
that what happened to him
stops happening to others.
Technology exists to
detect the proximity of flesh
to a saw blade and instantly
stop a table saw. Consumer
advocates have for years been
engaged in an effort to require
such technology as an indus-
try standard — and they’ve
enlisted Ward in their cause.
The Sisters man traveled
to Washington, D.C. last
month at the behest of Sally
Greenberg of the National
Consumers League. While
there, Ward testified before
the Consumer Products Safety
Commission, the body that
would ultimately recommend
a new industry standard. He
also spoke directly to individ-
ual commissioners, the CPSC
chairman and to senior staff
of three of Oregon’s congres-
sional delegation.
The matter has been before
the commission for several
years, but it hasn’t been on
the front burner.
“The big thing is their
funding and staffing,” Ward
said.
The CPSC is dealing with
all sorts of consumer safety
issues, from ATVs to kids
strangling on window blind
cords to kids eating laundry
pods. The frustrating thing
for Ward and other advocates
is that, while many issues are
complex, the table-saw fix
isn’t. Simply requiring that
flesh-detecting technology be
installed on every saw sold
takes care of the problem.
“There is one fix,” Ward
said. “It’s easy. It’s not as com-
plicated as these other issues.”
But years of inaction have
meant thousands of prevent-
able injuries. Ward says there
have been some 40,000 emer-
gency-room visits in the past
five years and there are as
many as 10 amputations a day
due to saw accidents.
But changing an industry
standard is a political process
and, Ward says, “you defi-
nitely learn politics and how
big of a mess it is.”
Ward acknowledges that
the private sector is acting to
adopt safety technology —
but not quickly or thoroughly
enough. Consumer advocates
argue that if the free market is
the only actor, only high-end
saws will be fitted with flesh-
detecting technology, and the
weekend hobbyist isn’t likely
to buy a top-of-the-line saw.
They want a universal
Rural & Residential Property Sales
Protecting your investment is my
number-one priority! It does make a
difference who you hire to represent you.
Patty Cordoni, Broker
CAR SHOW: Hot Rod
show fills Main
Avenue with classics
Continued from page 3
photo provided
Joshua Ward, left, with CPSC chairman eliot Kaye and consumer advocate
Sally greenberg in Washington, d.C.
safety standard for ALL table
saws. And Ward says the tech-
nology is readily adaptable
and could cut down accidents
with other types of saws as
well.
Ward testified before the
CPSC on June 24, and his tes-
timony was compelling. He
was not just reciting numbers
— he could tell his own story:
that of a young man whose
life was significantly altered
in a moment by an accident
that can now be prevented.
He told The Nugget that
he was assured that his tes-
timony made an impact.
And talking to congressional
staffers will have an impact
as well. Representatives for
Greg Walden, Jeff Merkely
and Ron Wyden all agreed to
write letters to put pressure on
the CPSC to act.
While Ward is continuing
his nursing studies and work-
ing for the summer at Black
Butte Ranch, he sees more
advocacy in his future. And
he believes that his personal
cause will eventually succeed.
He cites automobile safety
as an example. Eventually,
life-saving technology
was adopted, despite extra
expense.
“You don’t find a car made
anymore without airbags,” he
said.
Someday, he believes, and
hopefully soon, safety devices
will prevent the kind of injury
that changed his life.
Welcome
Quilters!
Sew on to
Success!
541-383-7600 offi ce 541-771-0931 mobile
patty.cordoni@sothebysrealty.com
541-593-4277
431 E. Ctsctde Ave., Sisters
Etch offi ce is independently owned tnd opertted.
1989 and is $30 per vehicle.
Space is limited for the show;
register as soon as possible to
ensure a spot.
“I know this is going to
be a lot of fun,” said Jeri
Buckmann, events director
for the Sisters Area Chamber
of Commerce. “It has been
exciting to plan, and we
feel fortunate that this event
brings beautifully restored
and maintained classic cars
and trucks lining Main
Avenue. The street is closed
to traffic so viewers can eas-
ily browse the vintage car
display in Sisters. People
enjoy classic cars. It was an
era that can’t be forgotten.”
Additional
spon-
sors include over 20 local
businesses.
For more informa-
tion on the Sisters Glory
Daze Car Show or to reg-
ister contact Buckmann at
jeri@sisterscountry.com or
541-549-0251.
Specializing
in Central
Oregon Rural
Properties
K
Kathy
H
Hansbrough
Broker, CDPE, GRI, SRE
B
C Cell: 541-408-2998
Offi ce: 541-728-0033
O
kjhansbrough@remax.net
www.kathyhansbrough.com
Stop by and visit with Tiana Van Landuyt & Shelley Marsh.
220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180
RE/MAX Key Properties
431 NW Franklin Ave. Bend, OR 97701
Licensed Broker in the State of Oregon