Health and safety is down to the individual, a lot of guards are put there to protect the manufactures from liability it's up to the user wether or not to use them , if its a new machine then by all means follow the safety manual, but really it's up to you, just like a fire arm you must have respect for anything that is going to bite you back, but the truth is the more you use the power tool the more you get nonchalant and that's when accidents happen, please take care it's hard ordering five pints of beer when you only have four digits......Paul
Ps hope the finger gets better chris it's a painfull way to kick start the health and safety in a workshop regime.