R 408.12730 Radial saws.
Rule 2730. (1) The upper hood shall completely enclose the upper portion of the
blade down to a point that will include the end of the saw arbor. The upper hood shall be
constructed of not less than 14 gauge minimum sheet metal or equivalent material that
will protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth and will deflect
sawdust away from the operator. The teeth of the lower exposed portion of the blade shall
be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will automatically adjust
itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in contact with the stock being cut to give
maximum protection possible for the operation being performed.
(2) In place of the requirements in subrule (1) of this rule, which require that the
sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade be guarded by a device that will
automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock being cut to give maximum
protection possible for the operation being performed, both of the following apply:
(a) The employer is not required to provide an automatically adjusting guard on that
side of the lower exposed portion of the blade where the distance between the stock and
the upper hood guard is less than 3/8 of an inch (lower side) for angle, bevel, or
compound level cuts.
(b) The employer may provide a specifically designed jig or fixture to protect the
lower exposed portion of the blade in all cases where the distance between the stock and
the upper hood guard exceed 3/8 of an inch (lower side) for angle, bevel, or compound
bevel cuts. This specially designed jig or fixture shall provide protection for the operator
which is equal to or greater than the protection required by subrule (1) of this rule.
(3) A box-type guard as prescribed in Figure 2 or a permanently mounted guard as
prescribed in Figure 3 or other fixed or adjustable barrier guard that restricts employee
exposure to the saw teeth may be used to protect the operator from inadvertently coming
in contact with the teeth of the bottom portion, from the front or sides, of the blade in lieu
of the self-adjusting lower blade guard if the upper portion of the blade, including the saw
arbor, is completely enclosed.
(4) When radial saws are used for ripping, a spreader should be provided to comply
with R 408.12723.
(5) Non-kickback fingers or dogs shall be located on both sides of each radial saw
used for ripping to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or
throw it back toward the operator. They shall be designed to provide adequate holding
power for all the thickness of material being cut.
(6) An adjustable stop shall be provided to prevent the forward travel of the blade
beyond the position necessary to complete the cut in repetitive operations. A limit chain
or other equally effective device shall be provided to prevent the saw blade from sliding
beyond the edge of the table or the table at that place shall be extended to eliminate
overrun. The front end of the unit shall be slightly higher than the rear or shall meet the
requirements of R 408.12728(3), so as to cause the cutting head to return gently to the
starting position when released by the operator. The slope shall not be enough to cause
rebound.
(7) Ripping and ploughing shall be against the direction in which the saw turns. The
direction of the saw rotation shall be conspicuously marked on the hood. In addition, a
permanent label colored standard danger red that is not less than 1-1/2 inches by 3/4 of an
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