It can be quite safe from kickback if you build an extra fence, with a cover over the top of the fence such that you would lower the blade through the top down into the table. ie, take a 5' piece of 7/8" x 3" hardwood, with a short pc screwed to the top overhanging the side by an inch or so. Then clamp this to the saw table, set your rip to 3-1/4" from the exidting fence and lower the blade thru the short block, into the table. Good long infeed and outfeed helps a lot, too.

: I plan on starting to build my first kayak in a few months. I am currently
: gathering the tools that I will need. I recently went to a woodworking
: store to purchase a thin kerf blade for my radial arm saw. When I
: explained to the store employee what I was going to use it for, he stated
: that using a radial arm saw to cut thin strips is very dangerous. I've
: been working with wood for many years and have never heard this before. He
: further stated that the wood will have a tendency to kick up. Is this
: true? Does it present a manageable problem? (I don't own a table saw)