model of a Garrett saw bench with a safety guard designed by J. B. Lakeman, 1879, scale 1:4, constructed by R. Garrett, Leiston, Suffolk, 1879

The British Factory Acts controlled harmful aspects of work, limiting working hours, especially of women and children, and establishing the Factory Inspectorate, one of whom invented this guard. The publicity stated: 'we have only to visit these places where many workers will testify to the dangers of their occupations 'by the loss of fingers, hands or arms’.