Sec3 COSPs 7 - Chop Saws & Radial Arm Saws
1. Follow all practices in Code of Safe Practice #5 Power Tools.
2. Always wear appropriate PPE (safety eyewear, hearing protection, etc.).
3. Ensure all guards are in place prior to using power tools. Never wedge guards open or remove guards.
4. Check your working materials carefully before proceeding. Make sure there are no nails, bolts or flaws before you run the materials through the saw.
5. Radial arm saws should have an upper guard that covers the arbor and a lower guard that rides on the stock, adjusting automatically to the thickness of the stock being cut.
6. Do not use radial arm saws for ripping unless the spreader (riving knife) and anti-kickback devices are provided and properly adjusted.
7. Do not stand directly behind the saw when ripping.
8. Do not reach around or in back of the blade.
9. Avoid cutting warped or uneven shaped stock. Stock should have a straight edge and be in contact with the fense at all times.
10. Make all adjustments with the machine’s power off. Disconnect the power when changing blades.
11. Your hand must be out of the path of the blade and no closer than 4 inches from the blade.
12. Use a push stick for ripping strips under 6 inches wide. Do not use the saw for for strips under ¾inch.
13. Wait until the saw is at full speed before starting to cut the stock.
14. Ensure that all clamps are tightly secured.
15. Do not reach around the blade to clear scrap pieces or chips while the saw is running.
16. Always return the cutting head to the rear of the track arm when finishing cutting.
17. Do not leave the saw unattended while it is running. Leave only after the saw has been turned off and it has come to a complete stop.