Portable Circular Saws Used For Ripping

This week's safety message covers Band, Portable Circular, Radial, and Table Saws. All four saws are used in construction. Each has a different use but all are capable of causing a serious injury if not used properly. Following are various OSHA guidelines pertaining to these saws:

Band Saws - All portions of band saw blades shall be enclosed or guarded, except for the working portion of the blade between the bottom of the guide rolls and the table. Band saw wheels shall be fully encased.

Portable Circular Saws - Portable, power-driven circular saws shall be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The lower guard shall cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to allow proper retraction and contact with the work, and shall automatically return to the covering position when the blade is removed from the work.

Radial Saws - Radial saws shall have an upper guard that completely encloses the upper half of the saw blade. The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade shall be guarded by a device that will automatically adjust to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut. Radial saws used for ripping shall have non kick back fingers or dogs. Radial saws shall be installed so that the cutting head will return to the starting position when released by the operator.

Saws - Circular table saws shall have a hood over the portion of the saw above the table, mounted so that the will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut. Circular table saws shall have a spreader aligned with the blade, spaced no more than 1/2 inch behind the largest blade mounted in the saw. This provision does not apply when grooving, dadoing, or rabbiting. Circular table saws used for ripping shall have non kick back fingers or dogs. Feeder attachments shall have the feed rolls or other moving parts covered or guarded so as to protect the operator from hazardous points.

Follow these rules. If you have a question about any one of these saws, ask your supervisor before you use it!

A moving saw blade can sever a finger or hand in a split second! Never remove a guard or wedge one open.