Circular saws can cause serious injuries if not operated safely.
Used for straight sawing, they’re designed to either cut across or along the grain of wood, depending on the blade on the tool, according to OSHA. “The operator adjusts the height of the blade,” the agency adds. “Then, holding the stock, the operator pushes the blade across it to perform the cut.”
If you’re working with a circular saw, OSHA says you can protect yourself by:
- Making sure to keep your hand out of the cut line.
- Checking that you’re using the correct blade for the material being cut.
- Operating the saw at the speed specified in the owner’s manual.
- Maintaining the blade and keeping it sharpened.
- Replacing cracked blades immediately.
- Using the saw’s machine guards and anti-kickback fingers to secure the material you’re cutting.
And remember to wear safety glasses to make sure your eyes are protected from flying particles.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication