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Specific Safety Rules for Circular Saws
(continued)
•
Always
observe
that the lower guard is
covering
the blade before
placing
saw
down on bench or floor. An unprotected,
coasting blade will cause the saw to walk
backwards,
cutting whatever is in its path. Be
aware
of the time it takes for the blade to
stop after switch is released.
•
NEVER
hold piece being cut in your hands
or across
your leg. It is important
to support
the work properly to minimize body exposure,
blade binding, or loss of control.
•
Hold tool by insulated
gripping
surface
when performing
an operation
where the
cutting
tool may contact
hidden
wiring
or
its own cord, Contact
with a "live" wire will
also make exposed
metal parts of the tool
"live" and shock the operator.
•
When
ripping,
always
use a rip fence or
straight
edge guide.
This improves the
accuracy
of the cut and reduces
the chance
for blade binding.
•
Always
use blades
with correct
size and
shape (diamond
vs. round)
arbor holes.
Blades that do not match the mounting
hardware of the saw will run eccentrically,
causing
loss of control.
•
Never use damaged
or incorrect
blade
washers
or bolts. The blade washers and
bolts were specially designed for your saw for
optimum
performance
and safety of
operation.
Causes
and Operator
Prevention
of Kickback
•
Kickback
is a sudden
reaction
to a pinched,
bound, or misaligned
saw blade, causing
an
uncontrolled
saw to lift up and out of the
workpiece
toward the operator.
•
When the blade is pinched
or bound tightly
by the kerf closing
down, the blade stalls and
the motor reaction
drives the unit rapidly back
toward
the operator.
•
If the blade becomes
twisted
or misaligned
in
the cut, the teeth at the back edge of the
blade can dig into the top surface
of the wood
causing
the blade to climb out of the kerf and
jump back toward
the operator.
•
Kickback
is the result of tool misuse and/or
incorrect
operating
procedures
or conditions
and can be avoided
by taking proper
precautions,
as given below:
•
Maintain
a firm grip with both hands on
the saw and position
your body and arm
to allow you to resist KICKBACK
forces.
KICKBACK
forces can be controlled by the
operator, if proper precautions
are taken.
•
When
blade is binding,
or when
interrupting
a cut for any reason,
release
the trigger
and hold the saw motionless
in
the material
until the blade comes
to a
complete
stop. Never attempt
to remove
the saw from the work or pull the saw
backward
while the blade is in motion,
or
KICKBACK
may occur.
Investigate and take
corrective actions to eliminate the cause of
blade binding.
•
When
restarting
a saw in the workpiece,
center
the saw blade in the kerf and check
that saw teeth are not engaged
into the
material.
If saw blade is binding, it may walk
up or KICKBACK
from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.
•
Support
large panels
to minimize
the risk
of blade
pinching
and KICKBACK.
Large
panels tend to sag under their own weight.
Supports
must be placed
under the panel on
both sides,
near the line of cut and near the
edge of the panel.
•
Do not use dull or damaged
blade.
Unsharpened
or improperly set blades
produce
narrow
kerf which causes
excessive
friction,
blade binding
and KICKBACK.
•
Blade depth
and bevel adjusting
locking
levers
must be tight and secure
before
making
cut. If blade adjustment
shifts while
cutting,
it may cause binding
and KICKBACK.
•
Use extra caution
when making
a "Pocket
Cut" into existing
walls or other blind
areas. The protruding
blade may cut objects
that can cause KICKBACK.
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