Woodworking machine safety (CCOHS fact sheets)

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This page summarizes ten OSH Answers fact sheets on woodworking machines from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). The key rules and numbers are given in the units each sheet uses. CCOHS usually gives the metric figure first and the imperial figure in brackets; a note under Jointers and planers flags one pair on that sheet that does not match. Every machine sheet also says the same four things: read the owner's manual, make sure you understand the instructions, learn the machine's applications and limitations, and follow the general safety tips below.

Numbers at a glance

Machine	Rule	Value
All machines	Collar around the start button, above the button	3 to 6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 in)
All machines	Noise is too high if you struggle to hear speech at	three feet
Push sticks	Always use one for pieces shorter than, or for the last part of a cut	30 cm (1 ft)
Push sticks	Minimum length when cutting within 30 cm of the blade	45 cm
Table saw	Maximum blade height above the stock	about 3 mm (1/8 in)
Table saw	Use a push stick when the fence is closer to the blade than	about 15 cm (6 in)
Table saw	Use a push stick for pieces shorter than, or for the last part of a longer piece	30 cm (12 in)
Table saw	Back edge of the outfeed extension table (when an assistant helps), from the blade	about 1.2 m (4 ft)
Band saw	Guard height above the material	about 3 mm (1/8 in) to 6 mm (1/4 in)
Radial arm saw	Table length (infeed and outfeed) for ripping	twice the longest piece
Mitre saw	Shortest piece to cut	20 cm (8 in)
Mitre saw	Plywood mounting board for remote sites	13 mm (1/2 in) or thicker
Jointer / planer	Clearance around the machine	at least 1 m (3 ft) more than the longest stock
Jointer / planer	Do not surface stock shorter than	30 cm (12 in)
Shaper	Shape stock only if longer than	25 cm (10 in)

General safety tips

Source: Woodworking Machines – General Safety Tips.

• Before starting: use only machines you have been trained on. Read the manual and ask if you have any doubt about doing the work safely.
• PPE: wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield worn with glasses or goggles. Wear a respirator when required and follow the workplace's respiratory protection program. Wear hearing protection suited to the noise level and frequency. Wear protective footwear when required.
• Noise test: if you have trouble hearing someone speak from three feet away, the machine is too loud and hearing damage may occur.
• Gloves: use gloves to protect against splinters when handling wood. Do not wear them near rotating blades or parts, where they can catch.
• Machine checks: the guard is in place, in good condition and guarding properly. Other safety devices are checked and adjusted. The equipment is grounded. Keys and adjusting wrenches are removed before the power goes on.
• Controls: start and stop buttons should be within easy reach. Protect start buttons against accidental contact; a collar 3 to 6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 in) above the button is recommended.
• Stock and tooling: check stock for nails, staples, loose knots and other defects. Keep cutting tools clean, sharp and in good order so they cut freely without being forced.
• Power off: turn the power off and unplug, or lock out, before inspecting, changing, cleaning, adjusting or repairing a blade or machine. Also turn it off to talk or when your attention is distracted. Do not do maintenance unless all hazardous energy is controlled.
• Hands: use push sticks and jigs, and keep hands out of the line of the blade. Clamp work when drilling, sanding, cutting or milling.
• Shop: provide good lighting without glare. Leave enough floor space to handle the work piece without bumping into people or equipment. Put extension tables or roller supports on both the infeed and outfeed sides for large pieces. Fit machines with well-maintained local exhaust ventilation. Run power cords above head level or in the floor. Keep floors clean, level, non-slip and dry. Do not use electrical equipment outdoors in the rain.
• Do not: wear loose clothing, work gloves, ties or jewellery. Do not stand directly behind stock being cut, planed or jointed (kickback). Do not clear cuttings by hand while the machine runs; use a stick or brush once it has stopped. Do not use compressed air on machines or clothing. Do not leave a machine running unattended; wait until the power is off and it has fully stopped. Do not try to free a stalled blade with the power on. Do not distract or startle an operator, and no horseplay.

Push sticks and push blocks

Source: Woodworking Machines – Push Sticks.

• Use them on table saws, band saws, radial arm saws, jointers, planers and shapers. They protect the hand while keeping good control of the stock.
• Push blocks for jointers and planers should be built for two-handed use.
• Always use a push stick for pieces shorter than 30 cm (1 ft) and for the last 30 cm of a longer cut.
• The stick must be long enough to keep your hand away from the blade. For cutting within 30 cm of the blade, use one at least 45 cm long.
• Use the push stick to remove the cut piece from between the fence and the blade.
• Hold-down push blocks should be rigid, protect both hands, and allow firm, steady pressure on the work.
• A simple push stick helps when the gap between the table saw blade and the fence is narrow.

Table saws

Source: Woodworking Machines – Table Saws.

• PPE: safety glasses with side shields or goggles (or a face shield with them), hearing protection, protective footwear and respiratory protection when required.
• Kickback is when the wood is thrown violently back toward the operator. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for reducing it. Keep your body and face to one side of the blade.
• Choose the right blade for the work, and keep blades clean, sharp and properly set.
• Guard: use the saw's own guard, or one designed for it. It must cover the blade above the stock and be wide enough to cover a tilted blade. Use a guard with a spreader (riving knife) and anti-kickback fingers for all ripping and cross cutting.
• Blade height: no more than about 3 mm (1/8 in) above the stock.
• Lock the fence once the width is set. Hold the work down on the table and against the fence. Feed against the direction of blade rotation.
• Support: use extension tables or roller supports for large pieces. If an assistant works at the outfeed end, the extension table's back edge should be about 1.2 m (4 ft) from the blade. The assistant stands to one side and does not reach toward the blade.
• Cross cutting: move the rip fence out of the way. Never use it as a cut-off gauge.
• Push stick when ripping narrow or short stock: fence less than about 15 cm (6 in) from the blade, piece shorter than 30 cm (12 in), or the last 30 cm of a longer piece.
• Turn off and unplug (or lock out) before any work on the saw.
• Do not: cut freehand (always use the mitre gauge or rip fence), reach around or over a moving blade, or feed faster than the saw can take. Do not lift the guard or work near the turning blade. Do not cut stock with loose knots, splits, defects or foreign objects. Do not clear cuttings by hand, clean with compressed air, or leave the saw running unattended.

Band saws

Source: Woodworking Machines – Band Saws.

• Anchor the saw to the floor, or to a bench of suitable height, to reduce vibration.
• Tie back hair, remove jewellery and wear fitted clothing.
• Set-up checks: guards in place and adjusted; all band wheels enclosed; wheels and blade in good condition; blade positioned on the track, tracking correctly and running freely against the upper and lower guide rollers; blade at proper tension (automatic tension control is desirable).
• Guard height: about 3 mm (1/8 in) to 6 mm (1/4 in) above the material. Wider gaps put tension on the blade and increase the risk of breaking it.
• The blade should be sharp, properly set and suited to the job (tooth pitch, tooth form, blade width).
• Keep hands out of the line of cut and braced against the table. Hold the stock flat and firm so it cannot turn and pull fingers into the blade. Use a push stick near the blade and to remove pieces between the fence and blade.
• Make release (relief) cuts before tight curves in scroll work.
• To stop mid-cut: hold the material, shut down the saw, and wait for the blade to stop before removing the piece.
• Keep the machine oiled and serviced, the floor clear, and the table well lit (a light on a flexible connection helps). Use lockout for maintenance and repairs.
• Do not: use excessive force, or back the stock out while the saw runs if it binds. Do not stop the blade by pushing stock against it after switching off. Do not clear the table by hand or with compressed air. Do not leave the saw running unattended.

Radial arm saws

Source: Woodworking Machines – Radial Arm Saws.

• Feed stock against the direction of the blade. Run the blade at the manufacturer's recommended speed, and use only accessories designed for that saw.
• Guard in two parts: an upper hood covering the arbour, and a lower guard that rides on the stock and adjusts itself to the thickness.
• Cross cutting: stand on the handle side. Pull the head with the hand nearest the handle and move the stock with the other hand, which must never be in line with the blade.
• Return the cutting head completely to the back of the table after each cut. The blade should not move forward under its own weight or from vibration.
• Ripping: the table (infeed plus outfeed) should be twice the length of the longest pieces. Feed from the side where the blade rotates upward toward the operator. The blade extends slightly into the table, and the motor head is locked at the correct height and angle. Do not rip unless the spreader (riving knife) and anti-kickback devices are fitted and adjusted.
• The table must be wide enough that no part of the blade overhangs its front edge.
• Mitre, bevel and compound cuts: clamp the stock on one side of the blade so it cannot slide along the fence.
• Turn off and unplug before adjustments. Turn off before measuring, and place the wood against the stop gauge.
• Do not: cut defective stock or cut freehand. Do not take your hand off the operating handle unless the head is behind the fence. Do not remove stock until the blade is back at its resting position. Do not use cracked or dull blades, leave the saw running unattended, or wear loose clothing, gloves or jewellery.

Mitre saws

Source: Woodworking Machines – Mitre Saws.

• PPE: eye protection and hearing protection; dust extraction, a respirator or a dust mask for dusty work; protective footwear when required.
• Mounting: fix the saw to a workbench or rigid frame and work at waist height. For remote sites, mount it on plywood 13 mm (1/2 in) or thicker and clamp it to a waist-high surface. Never operate it on the ground.
• Make adjustments only with the power off and the saw stopped, and secure them before cutting. Remove keys and wrenches.
• Keep one hand on the trigger switch and handle and hold the stock against the fence with the other, out of the blade's path.
• Use a crosscut or combination blade. Check that it turns in the right direction and is kept tight, clean, sharp and set. The blade and arbour collars should be secure and clean, with the recessed sides against the blade.
• Cut one piece at a time. Let the motor reach full speed before cutting, and wait for the saw to stop before removing the work.
• The switch should be OFF before plugging in. Unplug for servicing and when the saw is not in use. Repair or replace damaged parts, and keep the motor air slots clean.
• Do not: cut pieces shorter than 20 cm (8 in), cut defective stock, or cut solid timber along the grain. Do not cut freehand or reach around or behind the blade. Keep your hand on the trigger and handle until the lower guard fully covers the blade. Do not overreach or force the saw. Do not use the saw in damp or wet places, or near flammable liquids or explosive atmospheres.

Jointers and planers

Source: Woodworking Machines – Jointers and Planers.

• Check before starting: knives set for proper clearance and depth of cut, sharp, balanced and secure. The fence is anchored in position. The swing or overhead guard moves freely and returns over the head. The machine is lubricated and its parts are in working order.
• Only experienced, trained people should operate these machines. Use only sharp, balanced and joined knives.
• Replace old square cutting heads with round ones, which are much safer.
• The swing (self-closing) guard should push beside the stock as it passes over the head, then return against the fence.
• Keep fences and guards in place, and remove set-up tools from the table.
• Clearance: at least 1 m (3 ft) more than the longest stock.
• Use hold-down (double-handed) push blocks. Keep enough downward and forward pressure on them, because the revolving knives can pull the stock out of your hands.
• Do not: cut defective stock, leave the machine running unattended, or pass your hands near or over the cutters. Do not surface stock shorter than 30 cm (12 in). The sheet also sets a maximum depth for one pass, minimum sizes for edge-jointing, and width and thickness limits for surfacing (see the note below). Do not clear the table by hand or with compressed air, and do not wear loose clothing, gloves or jewellery.

Note on the source (not a CCOHS rule): the sheet sets a maximum depth of cut for one pass, but its metric and imperial figures for that limit do not agree, so the figure is not given here. It says not to edge-joint pieces "less than 30 cm (12 inches) long, 2 cm (3/4 inch) wide and less than .6 cm (1/4 inch) thick". For surfacing, it rules out stock less than 2 cm (3/4 inch) wide, more than 15 cm (6 inches) wide, or less than 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) thick. For the depth of cut, check the machine's owner's manual, which every CCOHS machine sheet tells you to read. These figures are left out of the question bank.

Shapers

Source: Woodworking Machines – Shapers.

• Only trained, experienced people should operate shapers.
• Use the cutter and spindle speed that suit the job. Use only sharp, clean cutters, and remove set-up tools from the table.
• Check belts and pulleys for wear from time to time, and check the spindle for burrs or excessive runout.
• Before running: the spindle is square with the table, the spindle top and knives are adjusted and fastened, and the spindle turns freely. If they are in the wrong position, the cutters may make a "chattering" noise or look loose: turn off, unplug and correct the problem before continuing.
• Run at the manufacturer's speeds without excessive vibration. Use jigs, holders and hold-down push blocks. Check that any table guide pin is adjusted and will not slip.
• Cut with the grain. Take extra care with cross grain or knots, which can pull hands into the knives or cause kickback.
• When one blade is removed from the spindle, remove all the others so they cannot be thrown off if the machine starts.
• Lock out before adjustments. Shape one piece at a time, and only stock longer than 25 cm (10 in). Support long pieces with extension tables or rollers.
• Do not: leave the shaper running, rest your hands near the edge being cut, or tamper with the guards. Do not back up the stock; always feed against cutter rotation. Do not make deep cuts or feed too fast, or cut defective stock. Do not clear cuttings by hand or with compressed air, or clear the table while the cutter turns. Do not pile stock on the table, stand in line with the stock being fed, or wear loose clothing, gloves or jewellery.

Sanders

Source: Woodworking Machines – Sanders.

• Run sanders with the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) on. The LEV should be designed for the sander and well maintained. Wear respiratory protection (for example, dust masks) where required during sanding and clean-up.
• Keep hands away from the abrasive. Hold small or thin pieces in a jig or holding device.
• Inspect belts and replace any that are worn, frayed or worn in spots.
• Disc sander: sand on the downward side so the rotation drives the wood onto the table.
• Enclose drum, disc and belt sanders in an exhaust hood covering everything except the work-feed portion.
• Set work rests with minimum clearance to the belt, and secure them.
• Belts should be the same width as the pulley drum. Set belt tension so the belt runs at the same speed as the drum while the wood is in contact.
• Turn off and unplug before adjustments. Keep fences and guards in place. Guard feed rollers so boards can pass but fingers and arms cannot.
• Guards must prevent contact with in-running nip points, power transmission, feed roll parts and the unused part of the belt on the operator's side.
• Do not: sand defective stock, or small or thin pieces held in the hand. Do not wear loose clothing, gloves, jewellery or dangling items, and tie back long hair. Do not operate without the exhaust running, without adequate guards, or without a properly adjusted work rest.

Wood turning lathes

Source: Woodworking Machines – Wood Turning Lathes.

• Only experienced, trained operators should use lathes. Wear eye protection against flying chips, hearing protection, respiratory protection when there is dust (for example, when sanding), and footwear when required. Work in a well-lit area.
• Before switching on, check that all clamps and fittings are secure and the work piece turns freely. Use stock without loose knots, splits, cracks or foreign objects.
• Hold tools firmly with both hands against the tool rest. Hold the stock securely on the faceplate or between centres. Use only proper lathe tools, and keep chisels and gouges sharp.
• Speed: follow the manufacturer's recommendations. For roughing, use a low speed and a moderate depth of cut so splinters do not fly. The actual speed depends on the type of wood, the stock diameter, the nature of the work and the type of tool.
• Tool rest: parallel and as close as possible to the stock, high enough that tools cut slightly above centre. Remove it when sanding or polishing.
• Hold sandpaper in a holder where possible, such as a "nutcracker" or paper fixed to a flat piece of wood. If you use your hands, hold the paper so it cannot catch or wrap around the stock.
• Faceplate turning: one hand steadies the chisel tip and keeps the edge on the tool rest while the other guides the tool. Keep the tip higher than the handle.
• Lock out for adjustments and set-up changes.
• Do not: wear gloves, loose clothing, hood strings or hanging jewellery; tuck in shirts and tie back long hair. Do not leave a running lathe unattended, use makeshift tools, or use stock with checks, splits, cracks or knots.

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Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, OSH Answers – Woodworking Machines fact sheets (General Safety Tips; Push Sticks; Table Saws; Band Saws; Radial Arm Saws; Mitre Saws; Jointers and Planers; Shapers; Sanders; Wood Turning Lathes). Paraphrased; see the sheets for the full text.