• I find the extra guide unnecessary.
• I warn my colleagues if they are using the sawing machine unsafely.
• I throw the waste in the nearest waste container.

The circular saw and the crosscut saw are essential tools on a construction site.

They are used to perform the following activities:

• crosscutting
• scalloping
• wedging
• sawing plates.

The circular saw is used to process wood.

The sawing of materials such as tempex is dangerous and is not permitted. Use one of the tools with filament depicted below to cut tempex.

• Touching the rotating saw blade
• Recoil and jamming of workpiece
• Noise exceeds safe levels
• Release of harmful substances (e.g. wood dust particles)
• Being distracted
• Tripping over waste
• Not enough workspace around the machine

User:

• Only individuals with sufficient expertise are allowed to operate the machinery after receiving safety instruction
• Adolescents (under 18 years of age) may only use the machinery within the context of an officially
  recognised vocational training programme and under effective and skilled supervision
• If necessary, the machine can be equipped with a lockable switch, for which only trained staff have a key
• The user may not wear any rings or loose-fitting clothing

Personal protective equipment:

• The wearing of hearing protection is mandatory
• Wear safety goggles during sawing activities
• It is not permitted to wear work gloves or tight-fitting gloves.

The Heijmans stance is that gloves should not be worn. This includes tight-fitting gloves, as listed in the Abomafoon (Health & Safety guide). The reason for this is that each individual can have a different interpretation of “close-fitting” gloves. Close-fitting gloves offer almost no extra protection against bumps and cuts. In addition, there is a risk that employees will use gloves that are insufficiently close-fitting, which increases the risk of the glove and the hand being gripped by the saw blade. The risk that employees will use insufficiently tight-fitting gloves thus outweighs the benefit of close-fitting gloves.

Saw blade:

The saw blade must be set to the maximum height, to reduce the risk of recoil by the
wood.

• as high as possible for scalloping and crosscutting
• as low as possible for sawing plate materials, to prevent splinter formation as much as possible
• The sharper the saw blade, the safer it is. A sharp blade reduces the risk of clamping, recoil or jamming of the saw
• A saw blade should also be clean (residue of resin from wood removed, etc.)

Protective cover:

• Always use the protective cover

Riving knife:

• Never remove the riving knife from the machine. This prevents clamping of the wood.

Guide rails:

• The saw machine should be fitted with both a guide rail and an accessory guide rail. The latter should be adjustable

Push stick:

• Always use a push stick

Order and tidiness:

• Keep the area around the circular saw clean

Step-by-step plan prior to sawing (tips)

For the preparation/execution of work: always try to order materials to size if possible.

• Ensure that you have received the required instruction/tuition (for example, from the sawing warehouse coordinator)
• Warn any bystanders that you are going to start sawing;
• Check your PPE (see “user”)
• Check that the dust extraction is working
• Place the protective cover as closely as possible over the piece that needs to be sawed
• Check the saw blade for any abnormalities
• Adjust the saw blade to the correct height
• Check that the emergency stop button has been activated and switch the sawing table on (ensure that your workpiece is not positioned against the saw blade).
• Avoid standing in line with the saw blade, to prevent being hit by any ejected parts.
• Ensure that your hands never come within 10 cm of the saw blade, always use the push stick.
• Be mindful of the fact that your hand or fingers could slip. Never push too hard in the direction of the saw blade.
• Push the workpiece over the saw blade in a calm and controlled manner
• Switch the sawing table off
• Tidy the workstation

Construction circular saw machines - Aboma (abomafoon.nl)