A table saw is one of the most practical tools in any DIYer's workshop, but it can also be one of the most dangerous if you're not careful. US emergency rooms treated an estimated 565,670 non-occupational table saw-related injuries between 1990 and 2007. That works out to about 31,500 non-workplace injuries a year! Most incidents involved finger lacerations, but finger amputations were all too common as well.

Now, ideally we'd all own something like the SawStop table saw, which cuts out when the blade comes within 5 milliseconds of detecting human skin. (Don't believe it? Check out this YouTube clip in which SawStop's inventor demonstrates the cut-out mechanism using his own finger!).

But for all you basic table saw owners, we offer these 10 essential safety tips -- some obvious, some surprising. Did we miss any? Leave a comment and let us know!

1. Dress Wisely. Don't (that's right: don't) wear gloves. They're no match for a spinning blade, so they do nothing to protect your fingers. In fact, their extra bulk actually reduces your dexterity and increases the risk of your fingers being pulled into the blade's path. Also, ditch loose or dangling clothing or jewelry, and keep your hair covered or tied back.

2. Protect Your Face. Don't forget to protect your eyes and ears with safety glasses and ear plugs each and every time you reach for the on-switch. If you're expecting to create a lot of sawdust, don a face mask, too. Think it's cool to go without face protection? Have fun at the ER getting that huge splinter dug out of your eyeball. I've seen it happen and it's not pretty.

3. Use a Push Stick. If a cut looks set to bring your fingers within 6 inches of the blade, you're too close. Always use an inexpensive push stick (a handheld device that acts as a buffer between your hands and the blade when operating a table saw) to protect yourself.