Faddis and Warner

Power-Saw Safety Tips

Whether you're remodeling a basement, fixing a porch or building a deck, chances are you'll use a power saw.

Power saws make any home fix-it job easier, but be careful: Contact with saw blades spinning at 5,000 revolutions per minute sends more than 91,000 people to the emergency room every year.

"Kickback," a hazard inherent to all power saws regardless of brand or style, is a leading cause of power-saw injuries. It occurs when the material being cut binds or pinches the saw blade. In a split second, kickback can jerk the saw out of your hands or shoot the piece of wood you're cutting back toward you.
"Kickback is common to anyone who picks up a power saw, whether you're a professional carpenter or a weekend do-it-your-selfer," said John Drengenberg, manager of consumer affairs for Underwriters Laboratories, a non-for-profit organization that evaluates products for public safety.
"But by taking the time to learn how to use a saw safely and taking precautions to minimize the effects of kickback, anyone can cut with confidence," says Dregenberg.

Drengenberg recommends taking the following precautions when using a power saw.

• Use the right saw for the task. For example, don't use a circular saw for cutting tree limbs or logs. A chain saw is the appropriate tool in this case.
• Always wear safety glasses. Never wear loose clothing or dangling jewelry when using a saw. It can get caught in the saw's moving parts.
• Never set the blade any deeper than one-eighth inch to one-fourth inch below the work piece. Kickback becomes more intense when there is more blade that can be pinched. Keep blades clean and sharp.
• Use clamps or a vise to hold work in place. Never make cuts across your knee, foot or hand. Securing the work piece allows you to keep two hands on the saw and increases your control over kickback.
• Pay attention while making a complete cut. Alert users should feel resistance as the work piece or saw becomes harder to push through. In some instances, the blade may screech as it binds or slows, signaling a potential kickback situation.
• If the blade begins to bind, stop cutting. Hold the saw and the wood completely still. Wait for the saw blade to stop moving before pulling away from a cut.

Power saws, like any household appliance, need to be maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.