
other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
b) Check the operation of the lower guard spring. If the guard
and the spring are not operating properly, they must be
serviced before use. Lower guard may operate sluggishly due
to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of debris.
c) Lower guard may be retracted manually only for special cuts
such as “plunge cuts” and “compound cuts.” Raise lower
guard by retracting handle and as soon as blade enters
the material, the lower guard must be released. For all other
sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically.
d) Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade
before placing saw down on bench or oor. An unprotected,
coasting blade will cause the saw to walk backwards, cutting
whatever is in its path. Be aware of the time it takes for the blade
to stop after switch is released.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY WARNING FOR CONSTRUCTION DUST
The updated Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1st October 2012 now
also targets to reduce the risks associated with silica, wood and gypsum dusts.
Construction workers are one of the at-risk groups within this because of the dust that they
breathe: silica dust is not just a nuisance; it is a real risk to your lungs!
Silica is a natural mineral present in large amounts in things like sand, sandstone and
granite. It is also commonly found in many construction materials such as concrete and
mortar. The silica is broken into very ne dust (also known as Respirable Crystalline Silica or
RCS) during many common tasks such as cutting, drilling and grinding
Breathing in very ne particles of crystalline silica can lead to the development of:
Lung cancer
Silicosis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD))
And breathing in ne particles of wood dust can lead to the development of Asthma
The risk of lung disease is linked to people who regularly breathe construction dust over a
period of time, not on the odd occasion.
To protect the lung, the COSHH Regulations sets a limit on the amount of these dusts that
you can breathe (called a Workplace Exposure Limit or WEL) when averaged over a normal
working day. These limits are not a large amount of dust: when compared to a penny it is
tiny – like a small pinch of salt:
This limit is the legal maximum; the most you can breathe after the right controls have been
used.