Wood Shop Safety

Table Saw

Before Turning On The Table Saw
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating any machinery.
2. Check blade for damage or cracks.
3. If necessary make adjustments for cut angle using the angle adjustment on right side of table saw.
4. Adjust blade to ¼ inch above stock.
5. Remove any loose tools or supplies from the table to avoid them coming in contact with moving parts.
6. Use only new clean stock. Stock with dirt, loose knots, paint, nails, etc should not be cut. Always joint or plane the edge of stock before ripping.
7. If you need to use another type of saw blade such as dado cutter, shaping blades, etc please make arrangements with instructor and studio technician.
8. Make sure you have total clearance as material is fed through tool to other side. Ask for assistance in guiding oversized material or material that hangs over the work surface of the saw.
9. Thoroughly plan your cut and how the stock will feed through the saw before turning on the saw.
Operating The Table Saw
1. Make sure guards are in place before turning on saw. Turn on saw. Push stock through saw slowly.
2. Keep blade area clear. Keep fingers a safe distance from blade.
3. Keep stock flat on worktable while cutting. Do not lift stock while feeding it through machine.
4. Don’t reach over blade while in motion. Keep hands and fingers out of the path of the cut and safe distance from the blade.
5. Do not stand in line with the blade while saw is operating. Stand to the left or right of the blade. Keep area behind saw clear while in operation in case of kick back.
6. Only cut stock that lies flat on the table. Prep stock before cutting or use a holding device.
7. Use a push stick when ripping wood or when cutting stock that is smaller than hands width.
8. Never use the fence while cross cutting. When cross cutting attach a clearance block to the fence and use the miter to maintain a straight cut.
9. Feed stock only as fast as the saw will cut freely, Do not force feed the stock.