Power saws are a very useful tool, allowing workers to cut things much faster than with hand saws. However, they can also be dangerous if you aren’t careful. Therefore, it’s important to practice good power saw safety. Doing so will ensure you get your work done with not doing any serious damage to yourself…
Power Saw Safety: What To Know
Watch your hands
Perhaps the most important part of power saw safety is keeping your hands in check. Power saws spin very quickly, and as a result, can do a lot of damage to your hands if they get caught. For instance, nerve and muscle damage, and even a loss of fingers are all common injuries.
Therefore, always keep your hands well clear of the saw blade when using the saw. Never use your hand to remove debris around the saw; instead, opt to use a push stick. Plus, make sure to wear safety gloves and avoid loose clothes or jewelry which could get caught in the blade.
Check your blade
Another important part of power saw safety is making sure your blade is in good order. If you use a dull saw blade, then the saw could potentially get stuck or stall out. It could even kick back debris into your face! Therefore, make sure you always use a sharp saw blade.
Plus, it’s important to use the right blade for the job. Certain materials might only need a certain size blade to effectively cut them. Bigger blades can not only do damage to the material, but also be unsafe. Double-check if your saw of employer has guidelines for what blade should be used for each material.
Always watch your work
Good power saw safety means keeping your eyes on your work at all times. Even just taking your eyes off for a brief second could be enough to make a mistake. All it takes is one slip of the hand to cause some serious damage.
Plus, make sure you always have any safety guards on. If you’re not paying attention, then you won’t be doing these guards any good. The best way to ensure you keep yourself safe when using any tool is to always watch what you’re doing.