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Rough Mill Equipment > Straight Line/Gang Rip Saws
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 A straight line or gang
rip saw is a circular blade machine, usually
of the radial design, used for cutting stock across and above the
stock. The blade is mounted directly to the motor, which is
contained in the movable ram. The stroke may be manual or powered.
The saw blade generally rotates at 3600 rotations per minute (RPM). Stock is fed in front of
the machine on a feed table with rolls and guides
and pulled across the stock. After the cut is complete, the blade must return to its original
position behind the stock and the stock is repositioned for
the next cut.
Operator Involvement
This type of saw requires the operator to position the stock, hold it stationary,
and grasp the sawing mechanism.
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Potential Hazard:
- Point of operation - Contact with the blade may occur
during operation, when the saw is idling, if the return
device fails, or if the saw bounces forward from a
retracted position.
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Fig 1 - Gang Rip blades
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Possible Solutions:
Engineering Controls
- Enclose upper half of saw and arbor end with a
self-adjusting hood. The hood must drop on top of
and remain in contact with the table or stock. When
the saw returns to the back of the table, the hood
must cover the lower portion of the blade [29
CFR 1910.213(g)(1)].
- Ensure that the saw contains an automatic device
(such as a counterweight) to return the saw to
the back of the table after the cut has been made [29
CFR 1910.213(g)(2)].
- Install a latch with a ratchet release on the
handle, non-recoil spring, bumper, or other device
to keep the saw from rebounding from its idle
position.
- Use limit chains or other means to keep the saw from
moving beyond the front or back edge of the table [29
CFR 1910.213(g)(3)].
- Enclose overhead drive with a fixed guard [29
CFR 1910.219].
Work Practices
- Position the piece to be cut before starting the saw.
- Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is
running and use the hand nearest the handle to
operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out
of the line of the saw.)
- Keep hands out of the line of the cut.
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Potential Hazard:
- In-running nip points - Clothing, hair, or hands may
be caught by and pulled into the in-running rolls of the
automatic feed.
Possible Solution:
Work Practices
- Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is
running and use the hand nearest the handle to
operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out
of the line of the saw.)
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Potential Hazard:
- Kickback - Stock caught by the blade may be thrown
back at the operator.
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Fig 2 - Gang rip saw
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Possible Solutions:
Engineering Controls
Work Practices
- Position the piece to be cut before starting the
saw.
- Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is
running and use the hand nearest the handle to
operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out
of the line of the saw.)
- Make sure guards and counterweights are properly
adjusted at all times. Take improperly adjusted saws
out of service [29
CFR 1910.213(s)(1)].
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Potential Hazard:
- Flying particles -
The cutting action of the blade may throw wood chips, splinters, and broken
saw teeth.
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Fig 3 - Gang rip saw
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Possible Solutions:
Engineering Controls
Work Practices
- Stand at the side of the saw blade when the saw is
running and use the hand nearest the handle to
operate the saw. (This keeps the operator's body out
of the line of the saw.)
- Remove cracked and defective saw blades from
service [29
CFR 1910.213(s)(7)].
- Make sure guards and counterweights are properly
adjusted at all times. Take improperly adjusted saws
out of service [29
CFR 1910.213(s)(1)].
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