Codes of Safe Practices

BAND SAWS

1. Wear personal protective equipment (safety glasses) when using drills, grinding equipment, saws, wire brushes, or similar equipment even if you're making just one cut.

2. Check your working materials carefully before proceeding. Make sure there are no nails, bolts or flaws before you run the materials through saws or other power tools.

3. Make sure all guards are in place prior to using power tools. Never wedge saw guards open or remove guards.

4. Inspect the saw to see that the blade is sharp, free of cracks, and properly adjusted. Do not use power saws with dull or “burned” blades.

5. Keep work areas clean of all scraps that might touch the saw blade and be thrown back. Never use your hands to remove debris from saw table. Use a brush.

6. Don’t cut material unless it is properly supported. Do not support it with your hand or arm and not against your knee or foot. Do not cut any material next to your body.

7. Do not force material through any saw. Allow the blade to do the cutting.

8. Get help when cutting long or bulky material.

9. After the saw has stopped, clean off the saw table of all dust, chips, debris, etc.

10. When walking by operating power equipment, be careful to avoid flying particles or accidental contact with the equipment.

11. Don’t walk away from a power saw until the blade is completely stopped.

12. Disconnect power before changing blades, belts or bits (see Lockout/Tagout).

13. Set the blade evenly with the proper amount of tension.

14. Keep your hands on either side of the cut line. Never reach across the cut line for any reason.

15. Do not stand to the right of the band saw.

16. Be sure the radius of your cutting area is not too small for the saw blade.

17. If you hear a rhythmic click, check the saw blade for cracks.