07 Machines en gereedschappen
 >  Circular saw machine
Discussion > Talk with your colleagues about it!
  • 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.
Introduction

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.


Risks > What can happen?
  • 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
Measures > What must you do?

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