PDFWAC 296-807-12005
Make sure portable circular saws are safe to use.
(1) You must use a constant pressure switch to turn on or operate any circular saw using a blade that has a diameter greater than two inches.
(2) You must remove cracked saws and saw blades from service.
(3) You must make sure power driven circular saws that have a blade diameter larger than two inches have guards above and below the base plate (shoe) as listed in Table 2, Portable circular saw guarding requirements.
Table 2
Portable Circular Saw Guarding Requirements
Upper Guard | Lower Guard | |
Covers the blade to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc necessary to allow the base to tilt for bevel cuts. | (1) Covers the blade to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc necessary to allow proper: | |
(a) Retraction of the guard; | ||
(b) Contact with the work. | ||
(2) Automatically and instantly returns to the position covering the blade when the saw is withdrawn from contact with the work. | ||
EXEMPTION: | Guarding requirements in subsection (3) of this section do not apply to saws used in the meat cutting industry to cut meat. |