Refer to...

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

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

Lesson Suggestion... Set Up for Safety

Objective: To teach students to prepare for and execute
a variety of table saw and radial arm saw jobs.

Materials/Requirements: A table saw, a radial arm saw,
workpieces in a variety of shapes and dimensions appropriate
to the radial arm saw or table saw, feather-boards, push-sticks
and push-blocks.

What To Do: Have your students read the sections in Safety
Is Specific that deal with the use of table saws and radial arm
saws. (Copy these pages for your students if they do not have
their own booklet.) Give them a first demonstration on using
each of these tools. Identify all the parts of each tool and
explain their function.

Carefully demonstrate proper saw alignment procedures and how
to adjust fences according to the tool's instruction manual.
Stress the importance of keeping saws aligned at all times and
how to use the saws' instruction manuals to do so.

Next, offer the students workpieces that present some problems
—short pieces, narrow pieces, twisted pieces, pieces without
straight edges, pieces of unusual thickness. Have the students
demonstrate how they would set up the job to accommodate these
pieces. Offer the feather-boards and push-blocks and push-sticks.
Are the students able to use these appropriately to make the
job safe?

Offer the students some workpieces that are not safe a work
piece that is shorter than the diameter of the saw blade, for
example. Do they recognize these pieces as unsafe? Explain
that stock of certain dimensions should not be attempted with
these saws. Offer them alternative tools or procedures.

Finish by demonstrating exactly how to set up and cut unusually
sized workpieces.
The table saw and radial arm saw are two of the most widely used power tools in any woodworking shop — and two of the most demanding. Operators must have a thorough understanding of these tools and all their procedures in addition to knowing how to set up for safety.

The area around the blades of the table and radial arm saws can generally be considered a "danger zone." Any time any part of the operator's body comes in direct line with the blade, or is less than three inches to either side of the blade, that operator is in imminent danger. Remember that no power tool knows the difference between a workpiece and flesh and bone.

Show your students how to avoid awkward operations and hand positions that might allow the operator's hands to move into the cutting tool. Help them develop the habit of always avoiding the area in front of the blade and three inches to each side. Tell them to never reach behind or over the blade for any reason. Teach them that when the operator's hands need to pass beyond the front edge of the saw table or past the leading edge of the blade, he or she must use work helpers to keep the workpiece flat on the table and against the fence. Show your students how work helpers will help stabilize, control and guide the workpiece while allowing the operator better cutting precision without placing hands and arms in harm's way. Make sure your students understand that time invested in careful and proper setup using work helpers is all important to safety — and actually saves time, too.