Shop Safety
Spotting Procedure
No procedure should present a lethal risk.
If a procedure is lethally dangerous, find another method.
Before beginning an operation with potential for disabling but not lethal injury, estimate the time for completion.
If more than 20 minutes, arrange the work in smaller increments.
Before beginning, find a reliable person in the department and witness a timer being set
for the estimated time with instructions to investigate if the timer alarms.
After completing the procedure, shut off the timer or see it shut off.
Safety at Leading Engineering Schools
Thayer School of Engineering, Safety Information
MIT Machine Shop Safety
Bandsaw
How injuries occur
This saw is one of the most dangerous machines in the shop.
The most common injury is caused by contact with the blade.
This can occur in two ways.
- A hand may contact the blade when pushing the work into the
cut. In focussing on the work, the operator may forget how close
a hand is to the blade. A hand can be deflected toward the blade
if the workpiece breaks or if a corner of the workpiece
jumps off the blade.
- The operator may contact blade when attempting a dangerous action
such as removing an offcut fragment while the machine is running.
Imperative safe practices
- Inspect blades. Use a blade appropriate to the work. Do not use
a cracked or defective blade. Do not use a blade with teeth too
coarse for a thin workpiece.
- Unless the power cord is unplugged, keep the wheel doors and motor door shut.
- Adjust the upper guide post so that the guide is close to the work.
- Do not force a tight radius.
- Use a clamp or jig when cutting a small workpiece.
- Use a push stick or block. Never push near the blade. Think of what
can happen to a finger if the blade or workpiece breaks.
- Make cuts only when the power is on; not when the saw is coasting.
- Always stop and unplug the saw before any adjustment and before
attempting to clean or remove fragments.
Revision Log
2007-12-03 Three monitors & one tower delivered to campus recycling.
2007-12-21 Plug on vacuum cleaner replaced. Emergency contact
label on door updated. Use of personal safety light implemented.
2008-01-18 Waste vacuum pump oil sent to recycling.
2008-01-22 Face shield-hearing protector stationed.
2008-01-27 Safe use signs installed on machines.
2008-01-30 Sun framegrabber removed from top of cabinet in G150.
2008-02-22 Plug on tool grinder replaced.
2008-02-26 Two monitors and boxes removed from cabinet over sink.
2009-12-09--2009-12-11 Numerous disused laboratory items removed for disposal.
2010-02-19 Another truckload of surplus material donated to KBNF, kbnf.org.
2010-02-25 Added links to safety pages for other shops.
2017-07-10 Added "Spotting Procedure".
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