Table Saw

This activity is listed as:

🔶OrangeRequires submission of safety plan and approval by EHS

 

The process  to receive approval for this tool is:

  1. Check below to see that your use falls within guidelines
  2. Complete, sign, and submit the MIT remote making risk acknowledgement
  3. Develop your Remote Making Safety Plan with your faculty/staff oversight; look at the remote making safety plan form for guidance since you will need to fill out the form in Step 4
  4. Submit your remote making safety plan
  5. You will be contacted to discuss the plan, feasibility, modifications, etc.
  6. EHS will approve use of this tool once/if all safety and feasibility requirements are met
  7. As pre-COVID, staff/faculty are responsible for making sure the safety plan is followed

 

Minimum required PPE and precautions (more may be required based on circumstance)

  • Safety glasses
  • Hearing protection
  • Closed toed shoes

Hazards to be addressed in Safety Plan

  • Wood dust inhalation
  • Kickback impacting bystanders

Most important safety considerations (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

  • Tool specific:

    • Know where the emergency stop for saw is before cutting.

    • Saw should have a blade guard with a riving knife installed behind the blade.

    • Use a push stick with small rips

    • Do not cut stock that has screws, nails, or other items embedded in the stock. 

    • Make sure to push wood completely past the saw blade to avoid the potential of kickback

    • Do not use the miter gauge and the rip fence at the same time. In some instances stop blocks may be used as an additional fence but must be placed and end in front of the blade

    • Do not attempt to cut anything that is more than twice as wide as it is long without a crosscut sled

  • General:

    • Woodworking machines and tools shall not be used without the proper machine-specific training

    • Safety glasses must be worn, hearing protection should be worn with most power tool use.

    • No loose fitting and untucked clothes.  Tassels should be tied or tucked in.

    • Hair and beards should be tied back.

    • Do not wear gloves if the machine or tool has moving parts.

    • Use of powered machines and tools requires a buddy

    • Never use tools other than for their stated intention

    • Use care when operating machines or tools with high velocity and/or sharp parts

    • Never cut towards your own body. Your hand is a part of your body.

    • All appropriate guards that allow you to perform the desired action must be in place 

    • Ensure your setup has adequate dust collection

    • Unplug and control all cord powered tools before changing blades, or making adjustments to cutting tooling

    • Use water based finishes whenever possible. 

    • Always dispose of finishing implements properly by laying them flat on non-combustible surfaces to dry before disposal

Most important considerations in the use of the tool/technology (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

  • Measure thrice, cut twice

Links or info about video/images and complementary or alternative tools/tech to consider

Forms and contact information required to obtain approval to use this technology/tools