Table Saw and Miter Saw Safety
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- Use a push stick or push block when ripping material narrower than 6 inches on a table saw. Your fingers should never be closer than 6 inches to the blade.
- The blade guard, splitter, and anti-kickback pawls must be in place for all through-cuts. Remove them only for specific operations (dado cuts) and reinstall immediately after.
- Stand to the side of the blade path, not directly behind it. If kickback occurs, the material is launched straight back from the blade at high velocity.
- On miter saws, keep your hand at least 6 inches from the blade path. Clamp small pieces rather than hand-holding them. A spinning blade can grab a small piece and pull your hand in.
- Never reach behind or across a spinning blade. Wait for the blade to stop completely before moving cut pieces, adjusting the fence, or clearing debris.
Ask the crew
Is the blade guard in place on our table saw right now — and is there a push stick nearby for narrow rips?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
Run this talk with your crew and keep the record
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
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