Good morning I.D.I. employees: This article is about a common tool that is used almost everyday at one job site or another. Below contains our I.D.I. best safe practices to help prevent an injury while using a chop saw.
Chop saws are used to cut a variety of materials, but we most commonly use a chop saw to cut metal studs and track. Chop saws are operated by manually lowering the saw blade into the material from an overhead, hinged position. Chop saw blades turn toward the operator from the top, and the blade can spin at thousands of revolutions per minute. The user must hold the stock/materials at times, creating an amputation hazard. Use holding devices if the saw was provided with them. Verify that hands, fingers and all body parts are out of the line of fire with the chop saw blade.
Chop saws are used to cut a variety of materials, but we most commonly use a chop saw to cut metal studs and track. Chop saws are operated by manually lowering the saw blade into the material from an overhead, hinged position. Chop saw blades turn toward the operator from the top, and the blade can spin at thousands of revolutions per minute. The user must hold the stock/materials at times, creating an amputation hazard. Use holding devices if the saw was provided with them. Verify that hands, fingers and all body parts are out of the line of fire with the chop saw blade.
Never use a chop saw with a missing or defective blade guard as shown in the photo immediately below.
The photo below shows a crew that knows what they're doing. The blade guard is in
place, face shield protection, fire extinguisher and a spark wall. Great job crew!
·
Use the correct
blade for the materials being cut.
·
Ensure the blade
has a higher R.P.M. rating than the chop saw does.
·
Ensure blade is
not cracked as the blade can explode.
·
Always turn off
and unplug the chop saw when performing maintenance or blade changes.
·
Always ensure the
chop saw has a working non-defective blade guard.
·
Always wear
safety glasses when using a chop saw or working nearby a chop saw.
·
A best practice
is to use a face shield in addition to safety glasses for face protection
against sparks and flying debris.
Required by many general contractors.
·
Wear hearing
protection when using a chop saw more than 2 hours in an 8 hour shift.
·
Always where
gloves when handling metal studs or track.
·
Always have a
fire extinguisher in your cutting area.
·
Ensure the chop
saw’s electrical cord is in safe condition for use. No cuts in the outer insulation, no exposed
wires, etc.
·
It’s best to use
the chop saw up off the ground so you are placing your body in good posture and
not bent over for long periods of time.
·
Don’t wear loose
clothing or jewelry such as necklaces that can get tangled in the blade.
·
Keep hands,
fingers and all body parts out of the line of fire of the chop saw blade.
