Almost lost a finger today - PLEASE wear your PPE!

So I was ripping some 2x4s on my table saw this morning and got a kickback that scared the living crap out of me. The wood shot back and hit me right in the gut. If I hadn't been wearing my safety glasses and hearing protection, I'd probably be in the ER right now. Got me thinking - what PPE do you guys use? I always wear glasses and ear muffs, but I'm starting to think I need one of those fancy push sticks. Any recommendations? Also, do you guys wear gloves? I've heard mixed things about gloves and table saws.

Glad you're okay Steve! Kickback is no joke. I learned my lesson the hard way too - got a nasty bruise on my hip from a piece of oak. As for gloves, I never wear them with table saws. My uncle was a carpenter and he always said gloves can get caught in the blade and pull your hand in. I just use bare hands for table saw and wear gloves for hand tools and stuff like that. Push sticks are a must though - I got a couple of those cheap plastic ones from Harbor Freight. They work fine for me. Also, make sure your riving knife is aligned properly. That's what caused my kickback.

Steve, glad you're alright. I've been woodworking for 20+ years and I've seen some scary stuff. Here's my PPE checklist: safety glasses (always), hearing protection (I use 3M Peltor muffs), and a dust mask or respirator when sanding or cutting MDF. For table saw work, I never wear gloves. I use a GRR-Ripper push block - it's pricey but worth every penny. Also, consider a SawStop if you can afford it. I know it's a big investment, but after seeing a buddy lose a finger, I saved up and got one. Best decision ever. And always use a riving knife and blade guard if possible. Stay safe!

Thanks for the advice guys. I do have a riving knife on my saw, but I'll double-check the alignment. And yeah, I think I'll skip the gloves for table saw work. I'll look into that GRR-Ripper - sounds like a solid investment. Chris, I wish I could afford a SawStop but that's way out of my budget. Maybe one day. For now, I'll just be extra careful and use push sticks. Carl, I'll check out those cheap push sticks too. No shame in saving a few bucks. Appreciate the help!