Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

About UL | Careers | Contact Us

Power Saw Precautions

Expert safety advice helps reduce 91,000 injuries

Spring into SafetyNORTHBROOK, Ill.; Spring 2005 - Whether you're remodeling a basement, fixing a porch or building a deck, chances are you'll use a power saw. Power saws make any home fix-it job easier, but be careful: Contact with saw blades spinning at 5,000 revolutions per minute sends more than 91,000 people to the emergency room every year.

Kickback, a hazard inherent to all power saws regardless of brand or style, is a leading cause of power saw injuries. It occurs when the material binds or pinches the saw blade during a cut. In a split second, kickback can jerk the saw out of your hands or shoot the piece of wood you're cutting back toward you.

"Kickback is common to anyone who picks up a power saw, whether you're a professional carpenter or a weekend do-it-your-selfer," says John Drengenberg, manager of Consumer Affairs for Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the not-for-profit product safety testing organization. "But by taking the time to learn how to use a saw safely and taking precautions to minimize the effects of kickback, anyone can cut with confidence."

Drengenberg recommends taking the following precautions when using a power saw.

  • Use the right saw for the task. For example, don't use a circular saw for cutting tree limbs or logs. A chain saw is the appropriate tool in this case.
  • Always wear safety glasses. Never wear loose clothing or dangling jewelry when using a saw. It can get caught in the saw's moving parts.
  • Never set the blade any deeper than 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch below the work piece. Kickback becomes more intense when there is more blade that can be pinched. Keep blades clean and sharp.
  • Use clamps or a vise to hold work in place. Never make cuts across the knee, foot or hand. Securing the work piece allows you to keep two hands on the saw and increases your control over a kickback.
  • Pay attention while making a complete cut. Alert users should feel resistance as the work piece or saw becomes harder to push through. In some instances, the blade may screech as it binds or slows, signaling a potential kickback situation.
  • If the blade begins to bind while making a cut, immediately stop the cut and hold the saw and work piece completely still. Wait for the saw blade to stop before pulling away from a cut.
  • Keep children away from the work area at all times. Never allow them to operate power saws.
  • Unplug or remove battery packs from all portable electrically operated power saws when not in use. These tools contain electricity even when turned "OFF."

Finally, power saws, like any household appliance, need to be maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

For more tips on the safe use of lawn mowers, ladders, power saws and home wiring, visit UL's Web site at www.ul.com/consumers.

About Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products for more than 110 years. UL tests more than 18,850 types of products annually, and more than 19 billion UL Marks appear on products each year. Worldwide, UL's family of companies and its network of service providers include 58 laboratories, and testing and certification facilities.

Top of Page