Refer to...

Safety is Specific, page 6. (Miter Saws and Chop Saws)

Safety is Specific, pages 4–5. (Table Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 5. (Kickback in Table Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 1. (Portable Circular Saws)

Circular Saw Safety Video, page 1.

Safety is Specific, pages 1-2. (Kickback in Portable
Circular Saws)

Safety is Specific, pages 3-4. (Radial Arm Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 3. (Kickback in Radial Arm Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 2. (Reciprocating Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 7. (Jig/Saber Saws)

Safety is Specific, page 7. (Stationary Band Saws)

Lesson Suggestion... Attack Kickback

Objective: To teach students the causes of kickback and the
measures to take to avoid it.

Materials/Requirements: Safety Is Specific, the Circular
Saw Safety Video, and access to a shop equipped with a variety
of power saws and stock.

What To Do: Have your students read the paragraphs on
kickback that appear on pages 1-5 in Safety Is Specific. (Copy
these pages for your students if they do not have their own
booklets). Also review the Circular Saw Safety Video.

    As a class, compile lists of the various causes of kickback.
Organize your lists into three categories: problems with stock,
problems with the saw, problems with the set-up and the operator's
procedure.

    Ask your students to suggest what precautions they can take
to prevent kickback. What factors, if any, are beyond their control?

    Finally, take a tour of your shop to inspect the equipment and
stock on hand. Examine all saw blades. Are any warped, cracked,
dull or dirty? Are all properly aligned? Is any of the stock pitchy,
knotty or warped? Discuss guards around the shop. Point out what
effect each part or portion of the guards has on the causes of
kickback. Are any conditions or materials present that might invite
kickback? Ask your students if they would be comfortable. For
references to the safe use of various saws, using any of the stock
or equipment on hand. If not, ask the students to note what
conditions should be addressed.

Saws account for a large share of power tool accidents. The very nature of high-speed, super-sharp blades can produce severe injuries. Base your safety training on two central points: the potential hazards and how to avoid injury.

A well-proven fact in the use of saws and other cutting tools is that guards are critical to safety. Modern guards provide essential protection without hindering the tool's capacity to do its job in any way. If your students have been told otherwise, they've been dangerously misinformed. It's vital that you correct them.

Properly functioning guards respond to emergencies by providing an immediate barrier between the operator and high-speed cutting edges. They also serve to contain sawdust, chips and other debris that can be thrown toward the operator.They simply must be used for each and every operation. Yet, the use of guards alone is not enough. Guards must still be combined with proper setup and tool operation to assure the operator's safety.

One of the most serious issues in learning to use power saws is averting kickback. That's the subject of the first saw lesson.