TABLE SAW SAFETY RULES
c. Never use the mitre gauge to feed the workpiece when ripping and do not use the rip fence as a length stop
when cross cutting with the miter gauge. Guiding the workpiece with the rip fence and the mitre gauge at the same
time increases the likelihood of saw blade binding and kickback.
d. When ripping, always apply the workpiece feeding force between the fence and the saw blade. Use a push
stick when the distance between the fence and the saw blade is less than 150mm, and use a push block when this
distance is less than 50mm. "Work helping" devices will keep your hand at a safe distance from the saw blade.
e. Use only the push stick provided by the manufacturer or constructed in accordance with the instructions.
This push stick provides sucient distance of the hand from the saw blade.
f. Never use a damaged or cut push stick. A damaged push stick may break causing your hand to slip into the saw
blade.
g. Do not perform any operation "freehand". Always use either the rip fence or the mitre gauge to position and guide
the workpiece. "Freehand" means using your hands to support or guide the workpiece, in lieu of a rip fence or mitre
gauge. Freehand sawing leads to misalignment, binding and kickback.
h. Never reach around or over a rotating saw blade. Reaching for a workpiece may lead to accidental contact with the
moving saw blade.
i. Provide auxiliary workpiece support to the rear and/or sides of the saw table for long and/or wide
workpieces to keep them level. A long and/or wide workpiece has a tendency to pivot on the table’s edge, causing
loss of control, saw blade binding and kickback.
j. Feed workpiece at an even pace. Do not bend or twist the workpiece. If jamming occurs, turn the tool o
immediately, unplug the tool then clear the jam. Jamming the saw blade by the workpiece can cause kickback or stall the
motor.
k. Do not remove pieces of cut-o material while the saw is running. The material may become trapped between
the fence or inside the saw blade guard and the saw blade pulling your ngers into the saw blade. Turn the saw o and
wait until the saw blade stops before removing material.
l. Use an auxiliary fence in contact with the table top when ripping workpieces less than 2mm thick. A thin
workpiece may wedge under the rip fence and create a kickback.
m. Never Cut Metals, Cement Board or Masonry. Certain man-made materials have special instructions for cutting on
table saws. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations at all times too avoid overheating the saw blade tips as well as
melting the plastic. Avoid overheating blade tips by pushing material through blade evenly. Forcing material to fast can
cause heating and damage to blade or workpiece. If cutting plastics is permitted, cut at a slower pace to avoid melting the
plastic.
3. Kickback causes and related warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction of the workpiece due to a pinched, jammed saw blade or misaligned line of cut in the workpiece
with respect to the saw blade or when a part of the workpiece binds between the saw blade and the rip fence or other xed
object.
a. Most frequently during kickback, the workpiece is lifted from the table by the rear portion of the saw blade and
is propelled towards the operator. Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions
and can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
b. Never stand directly in line with the saw blade. Always position your body on the same side of the saw blade as
the fence. Kickback may propel the workpiece at high velocity towards anyone standing in front and in line with the saw
blade.
c. Never reach over or in back of the saw blade to pull or to support the workpiece. Accidental contact with the
saw blade may occur or kickback may drag your ngers into the saw blade.
d. Never hold and press the workpiece that is being cut o against the rotating saw blade. Pressing the
workpiece being cut o against the saw blade will create a binding condition and kickback.
e. Align the fence to be parallel with the saw blade. A misaligned fence will pinch the workpiece against the saw blade
and create kickback.
f. Use a featherboard to guide the workpiece against the table and fence when making non-through cuts such
as rabbeting, or resawing cuts. A featherboard helps to control the workpiece in the event of a kickback.
g. Use extra caution when making a cut into blind areas of assembled workpieces. The protruding saw blade may
cut objects that can cause kickback.
h. Support large panels to minimise the risk of saw blade pinching and kickback. Large panels tend to sag under
their own weight. Support(s) must be placed under all portions of the panel overhanging the table top.
i. Use extra caution when cutting a workpiece that is twisted, knotted, warped or does not have a straight
edge to guide it with a mitre gauge or along the fence. A warped, knotted, or twisted workpiece is unstable and
causes misalignment of the kerf with the saw blade, binding and kickback.
j. Never cut more than one workpiece, stacked vertically or horizontally. The saw blade could pick up one or more
pieces and cause kickback.
7
To Next Page
