Section 296-155-370. Woodworking tools.

(1) Speeds. You must not operate any saw in excess of the manufacturers recommended speed.

(2) Guarding. All portable, hand held power-driven circular saws must be equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The upper guard must cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to permit the base to be tilted for bevel cuts. The lower guard must cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the minimum arc required to allow proper retraction and contact with the work. When the tool is withdrawn from the work, the lower guard must automatically and instantly return to the covering position.

(3) Hand-fed table saws.

(a) Each circular hand-fed table saw must be provided with a hood-type guard that will cover the blade at all times when the blade is not in use. This may be accomplished by the use of a guard that will automatically adjust to the thickness of the material being cut, or by a fixed or manually adjusted guard. If a fixed or manually adjusted guard is used, the space between the bottom of the guard and the material being cut must not exceed 3/8 inch if 1-1/2 inches or more from the blade, and 1/4 inch if closer than 1-1/2 inches.

(b) When the blade is in use, the hood-type guard must enclose that portion of the blade above the material.

(c) Hood-type guards must be so designed and constructed as to resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, and handling, in order to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth.

(d) The hood must be so mounted as to ensure that its operation will be positive, reliable, and in alignment with the saw. The mounting must be adequate to resist any reasonable side thrust or other force that would disrupt alignment.

(e) Where a hood-type guard cannot be used because of unusual shapes or cuts, you must use a jig or fixture that will provide equal safety for the operator. On the completion of such operations, you must immediately replace the guard.

(f) You must use a push stick on short or narrow stock when there is a possibility of the hand contacting the cutting tool.

(g) Each hand-fed circular ripsaw must be equipped with a spreader to minimize the possibility of material squeezing the saw or of material kickbacks. The spreader must be made of tempered steel, or its equivalent, and must be slightly thinner than the saw kerf. It must be of sufficient width to provide adequate stiffness or rigidity to resist any reasonable side thrust or blow tending to bend or throw it out of position. The spreader must be attached so that it will remain in true alignment with the blade, even when either the saw or table is tilted, and should be placed so that there is not more than 1/2-inch space between the spreader and the back of the blade when the recommended saw blade is in its maximum "up" position. If a blade smaller than the maximum permissible size is used, you must move the spreader to within 1/2 inch of the blade. The provision of a spreader in connection with grooving, dadoing, or rabbeting is not required. On the completion of such operations, you must immediately replace the spreader.

(h) Each hand-fed circular ripsaw must be provided with antikickback devices so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw blade to pick up the material or throw it back toward the operator. These devices must be designed to provide holding power for all the thicknesses of material being cut.

(4) Radial saws.

(a) Hoods and guards. Each saw must be provided with a device that will completely enclose the upper portion of the blade down to a point that includes the end of the saw arbor. The upper hood must be so constructed as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth, and to deflect sawdust away from the operator. The sides of the lower exposed portion of the saw blade must be guarded from the tips of the blade teeth inward radially with no greater than 3/8-inch gullet exposure. The device must automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in contact with the stock being cut for the 90° blade positions (0° bevel) throughout the full working range of miter position. A permanent label not less than 1-1/2 inches X 3/4 inch must be affixed to the guard visible from the normal operating position, reading as follows:

WARNING: TO AVOID INJURY, SHUT OFF POWER BEFORE CLEARING A JAMMED LOWER GUARD

Such a label must be colored standard danger red or orange in accordance with American National Standard Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, Z53.1-1979.

(b) Spreaders. When radial saws are used for ripping, a spreader must be provided and must be aligned with the saw blade.

(c) Antikickback devices. You must use antikickback devices located on both sides of the saw blade on the outfeed side, so as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the blade to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator, on each radial saw used for ripping. These devices must be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of material being cut.

(d) Adjustable stops and return devices. An adjustable stop must be provided to prevent the forward travel of the blade beyond the position necessary to complete the cut. A limit chain or other equally effective device must be provided to prevent the saw blade from sliding beyond the edge of the table; or the table must be extended to eliminate over-run.

(e) On any manually operated saw, installation must be such that the front of the machine is slightly higher than the rear, or some other means must be provided so that the cutting head will not roll or move out on the arm away from the column as a result of gravity or vibration. A permanent label not less than 1-1/2 inches X 3/4 inch must be affixed to the cutting head visible from the normal crosscut operating position, reading as follows:

WARNING: TO AVOID INJURY, RETURN CARRIAGE TO THE FULL REAR POSITION AFTER EACH CROSSCUT TYPE OF OPERATION

Such a label must be colored standard caution yellow in accordance with American National Standard Z53.1-1979.

(f) Direction of feed. Ripping and ploughing must be against the direction in which the saw blade turns. The direction of the saw blade rotation must be conspicuously marked on the hoods. In addition, a permanent label not less than 1-1/2 inches X 3/4 inch must be affixed to the end of the guard at which the blade teeth exit the upper guard during operation. The label must be at approximately the level of the arbor and must read as follows:

DANGER: TO AVOID INJURY, DO NOT FEED MATERIAL INTO CUTTING TOOL FROM THIS END

Such a label must be colored standard red or orange in accordance with American National Standard, Z53.1-1979.

(5) All woodworking tools and machinery must meet any other applicable requirements of American National Standards Institute, 01.1-1971, Safety Code for Woodworking Machinery.

(6) The control switch on all stationary radial arm saws must be placed at the front of the saw or table and must be properly recessed or hooded to prevent accidental contact.

(a) You must provide a firm level working area at the front of all stationary radial arm saws. You must keep the area free of all stumbling hazards.

(b) You must use a push stick or similar device must be used for pushing short material through power saws.

(7) Circular power miter saws. The requirements of subsection (4)(a) of this section applies to guarding circular power miter saws.

(8) Personal protective equipment. All personal protective equipment required for use must conform to the requirements of Part C of this chapter.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-370, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), § 296-155-370, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. WSR 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-370, filed 1/21/86; Order 74-26, § 296-155-370, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.]

RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 16-09-085, § 296-155-370, filed 4/19/16, effective 5/20/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 89-11-035 (Order 89-03), § 296-155-370, filed 5/15/89, effective 6/30/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. WSR 86-03-074 (Order 86-14), § 296-155-370, filed 1/21/86; Order 74-26, § 296-155-370, filed 5/7/74, effective 6/6/74.