March 2008 1

TABLE SAW SAFETYThe table saw is, by far, the highest risk piece of equipment in the woodshop – when you consider how much the table saw is used coupled with the potential for an accident. For these reasons, we have developed a pictorial set of DOs and DON’Ts about the Woodshop table saws.

These pictures will help all of us remember to operate as safely as possible, plus they will serve as a reminder to the Monitors as to the safe ways to operate the table saws.

There are 8 DOs and DON’Ts pictures. If a picture is really worth 1,000 words, then this is 16,000 words worth of information.

March 2008 2

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO have the blade about 1/8” above

wood.

DON’TDON’T have it a lot higher above

wood.

March 2008 3

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO push wood all the way passed the

blade.

DON’TDON’T stop until wood clears the

blade.

March 2008 4

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO ripping cuts using the fence.

DON’TDON’T do “cross cuts” with fence.

March 2008 5

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO use pusher for narrow cuts.

DON’TDON’T push on wrong side of blade.

March 2008 6

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO use other hand to hold rips to

fence.

DON’TDON’T let hand get to edge of blade.

March 2008 7

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO clear spacer before touching

blade.

DON’TDON’T touch blade and spacer at

same time.

March 2008 8

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO cross cuts w/sliding table

(preferable).

DON’TDON’T use table & fence at the same

time.

March 2008 9

TABLE SAW SAFETY[Guard removed for clarity. Guard should be on when cutting]

DODO cross cuts w/sliding table

(preferable).

DON’TDON’T do free hand cutting.