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Table saws are used for straight sawing.
Depending on the blade, they cut either across (crosscut) or with
(ripsaw) the grain of the wood.
Operator Involvement
With hand-fed saws, the operator adjusts the height
and angle of the blade. Then, holding the stock, the operator pushes
it into the blade. A guide is used to maintain a straight cut at the
desired width. At the end of the cutting stroke, the operator either
changes positions or pushes the stock past the blade. Self-feed
or power table saws are equipped with rollers or a conveyor system
to hold the lumber and force-feed it into the saw blade.
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Table saw
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Table saw with guide |
| Point
of Operation |
Potential Hazard:
-
Injuries can occur if an operator’s hands slip
while feeding the stock into the saw, or
if the operator holds his or her hands too close
to the blades while cutting. The operator can also
be injured when removing scrap or finished pieces
of stock from the table.
Solutions:
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Enclose the portion of the ripsaw and crosscut
saw above the table
with a self-adjusting guard as shown. The guard must adjust
to the thickness of the material being cut and
remain in contact with it [1910.213
(c)(1) and (d)(1)].
Hinge the guard so that the blades can be changed
easily.
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Use a push stick for small pieces of wood and for pushing stock past the blade. [1910.213(s)(9)]
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Saw blade with
a self-adjusting guard
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Push stick
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Additional Safety Measures
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Keep hands out of the line of the cut.
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Attach a brake to the motor’s arbor to stop the saw from coasting after the power has been cut off, or have the operator
remain at the saw station after the motor is shut off, until the blade stops turning.
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| Other
Moving Parts |
Potential Hazard:
-
Injuries can occur if the operator makes contact with the
blade under the table or with the power transmission
apparatus (if not enclosed).
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Table saw
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Solution:
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Always guard the portion of the blade below the
table. Protect operators from possible contact when
reaching under the table. [1910.213(a)(12)]
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Always guard the power transmission apparatus
(belts, pulleys, chains, sprockets, etc.). [1910.213(a)(9)]
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Table saw with enclosed saw and
power transmission apparatus below the table
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| Kickbacks |
Potential Hazard:
-
Kickbacks occur when the blade catches the stock and throws it back toward the
operator. Kickbacks can result if the blade height is
not correct or if the blade is not maintained properly.
Kickbacks are more likely to occur when ripping, rather
than crosscutting. Kickbacks also can occur if
safeguards are not used or if poor-quality lumber is
cut.
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For ripsaws, use a spreader to prevent material
from squeezing the saw or kicking back during
ripping.
[1910.213(c)(2)]
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Use anti-kickback
fingers to hold the stock down in the event that the
saw kicks back the material.
[1910.213(c)(3)]
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Anti-kickback fingers |
Additional Safety Measures
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Use the proper blade for the cutting
action. For example, do not use a crosscut blade for
ripping.
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Operate the saw at the speed specified by
the manufacturer.
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Leave sufficient clearance for
stock.
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Stand to the side of the saw blade to
avoid injury due to kickback.
- Guide the wood to be cut parallel to the rip
fence to minimize the potential for kickback.
- Avoid crosscutting long boards on
table saws. Considerable hand pressure is required
close to the saw blade, and the boards create a
safety hazard to other people.
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Table saw with rip fence
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Use a filler piece between the fence
and the saw blade when necessary such as when there
is little clearance on the fence side.
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Properly support all pieces of
stock, including the cut and uncut ends, scrap, and
finished product.
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| Flying
Particles |
Potential Hazard:
-
The cutting action of the blade may throw wood chips,
splinters, and broken saw teeth.
Solution:
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Table saw
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Additional Safety Measures
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Maintain sharp blades.
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Always wear eye and face protection.
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Protective eyewear |
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