Hand-held Saws

Hand-held saws are not mounted on a work surface, allowing for greater freedom of movement, but also a greater risk for operators due to the human control element. Hand-held saws are divided into two categories: circular saws (with a rotating blade) and jigsaws (with an up-and-down blade).

• Point of Operation
  • Hazard (Circular Saws): There is a rotating blade on a hand-held base.
  • Potential Safeguards (Circular Saws): The use of an upper guard over the entire blade or the use of a retractable lower guard will reduce the risk of cutting. Using a constant pressure control, such as a trigger, can prevent the saw from cutting if control is lost during operation.
  • Hazard (Jigsaws): There is a blade with rapid up-and-down movement on a hand-held base.
  • Potential Safeguards: The use an adjustable or self-adjusting guard over the blade above and below the stock will limit the cutting hazard to the portion needed to cut the stock itself.

• Flying Particles
  • Hazard: Any time a rotating saw blade is operating, it could fling scrap pieces, chips, or flakes of stock into the air.
  • Potential Safeguards: Regular maintenance is key to ensure a sharp blade, and every worker should wear proper eye and face protection.

To learn more about Machine Guarding visit our Machine Guarding Safety Online Training web page.