Woodworking eTool: Rough Mill > Overhead Swing Saws


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Rough Mill Equipment > Overhead Swing Saws

Swing sawhood and swing saw with limit chain A woodworking cutoff saw is a circular blade machine, usually of the radial design, used for cutting stock across and above the stock. The blade is mounted directly to the motor, which is contained in the movable ram. The stroke may be manual or powered. The saw blade generally rotates at 3600 rotations per minute (RPM). Stock is fed in front of the machine on a feed table with rolls and guides.

Operator Involvement

The most-commonly found cutoff saw has a manual stroke. This requires the operator to position the stock, hold it stationary, and grasp the sawing mechanism and pull it across the stock. After the cut is complete, the blade must return to its original position behind the stock and the stock is repositioned for the next cut.

Point of Operation
Kickbacks
Flying Particles

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Point of Operation

Potential Hazard:

Point of operation - Contact with the blade may occur during operation, when the saw is idling, if the return device fails, or if the saw bounces forward from a retracted position.

Overhead swing saw
Swing saw

Possible Solutions:

Engineering Controls

Enclose upper half of saw and arbor end with a self-adjusting hood. The hood must drop on top of and remain in contact with the table or stock. When the saw returns to the back of the table, the hood must cover the lower portion of the blade [1910.213(g)(1)].

Ensure that the saw contains an automatic device (for example, a counterweight) to return the saw to the back of the table after the cut has been made [1910.213(g)(2)].

Install a latch with a ratchet release on the handle, non-recoil spring, bumper, or other device to keep the saw from rebounding from its idle position.

Use limit chains or other means to keep saw from moving beyond the front or back edge of the table [1910.213(g)(3)].

Enclose overhead drive with a fixed guard [1910.219].

Work Practices

Position the piece to be cut before starting the saw.

Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is running, and use the hand nearest the handle to operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out of the line of the saw.)

Keep hands out of the line of the cut.

Kickbacks

Potential Hazard:

Kickback - Stock caught by the blade may be thrown back at the operator.

Possible Solutions:

Engineering Controls

Enclose overhead drive with a fixed guard [1910.219].

Work Practices

Position the piece to be cut before starting the saw.

Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is running, and use the hand nearest the handle to operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out of the line of the saw.)

Make sure guards and counterweights are adjusted properly at all times. Take improperly adjusted saws out of service [1910.213(s)(1)].

Flying Chips

Potential Hazard:

Flying particles - The cutting action of the blade may throw wood chips, splinters, and broken saw teeth.

Possible Solutions:

Engineering Controls

Enclose overhead drive with a fixed guard. [1910.219]

Work Practices

Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is running and use the hand nearest the handle to operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out of the line of the saw.)

Remove cracked and defective saw blades from service [1910.213(s)(7)].

Make sure guards and counterweights are adjusted properly at all times. Take improperly adjusted saws out of service [1910.213(s)(1)].

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