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Vertical band saw in operation |
Band saws use thin, flexible,
continuous steel strips with cutting teeth on one edge. They
are used
primarily for cutting curves in stock or in food processing plants
to cut and trim meat, poultry, and fish. The blade runs on two
pulleys, driver and idler, and through a work table where material
is
manually fed. Automatic feeds can be used for production cutting.
However, this
machine is usually considered a manual-feed tool.
The two types of band saws, horizontal and
vertical, are named for their respective cutting blade positions.
Operator Involvement
The operator is required to hand-feed and manipulate the stock
against the blade to saw along a predetermined line. The user must also
keep the stock flat on the work table and exert the proper cutting
force.
| Point of Operation |
Potential Hazard:
- Contact with the blade is the most common cause of injury. Extreme caution is necessary because the operator's
hands may come close to the saw blade, and a band saw cannot be completely guarded.
Solutions:
-
Guard the entire blade except at the point of
operation (the working portion of the blade between the
bottom of the guide rolls and the table). [1910.213(i)(1)]
-
Use a self-adjusting guard for the portion of the
blade between the sliding guide and the upper saw so
that it raises and lowers with the guide. [1910.213(i)(1)]
-
Fully enclose the pulley mechanism. [1910.219(d)]
-
Guard feed rolls. [1910.213(i)(3)]
-
Make sure the saw includes a tension control device
to indicate proper blade tension. [1910.213(i)(2)]
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Vertical Band Saw
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Additional Safety Measures
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Maintain appropriately sharpened blades.
-
Use a blade of an appropriate size and type.
For example
do not force a wide saw to cut a small radius.
-
Properly adjust the blade guide post to fit the
thickness of the stock and provide additional
guarding.
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Front and rear view of horizontal band saw
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Set the guard as close as possible to the stock when it is
near the blade.
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Use a push stick or manual feed arm to control the stock when it is
near the blade.
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- Install a brake on one or both wheels to minimize the
potential for coasting after the saw has been shut off
and do not retrieve material until the blade has stopped.
- Use a special jig or fixture when cutting small
pieces of stock.
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