Power Saw Injuries

Power Saws may cause severe lacerations and fractures.  Nerve, tendon, vascular injury and amputation are possible as well.  Fingertip injuries are the most common with the thumb being the most commonly injured digit.  An injury sustained from a power saw could quickly and suddenly have devastating consequences.  It has been determined that a circular table saw can sever a human forearm 6 centimeters in diameter in just 40 - 60 milliseconds depending upon the feeding power of the saw.

An inexperienced operator is more likely to  be injured with a power saw than with other tools.  These injuries are likely to be more severe  than with other tool injuries.  While tool design may be responsible for some power saw injuries a primary source of injury comes from failure to properly use the equipment and exercise sound safety principles.

Help to prevent these injuries.  Make the safety tips presented here common knowledge and practice in your home and workplace.  Know your equipment and its limits.

General Power Saw Safety Tips

• Never look away from your work when operating a power saw.
• When beginning, let the saw reach full speed before cutting and support the work firmly so it won't shift.
• If the saw stalls, switch off the power and unplug the tool before trying to restart it.
• Stop working and turn off the power saw you are working with if distracted by something or someone
• Never use your hands to clear the scraps from a sawing worktable.  Instead, use a long stick
• When working with metal, secure the metal materials with clamps or in a machinist's vise to keep it from moving.

For more information, including tool specific tips, click here.