DfES: Teachernet : Circular Saw

circular saw

The circular saw has a large rotary blade which can cut down large sheets of manufactured board and timber. The saw must only be used by a technician or teacher who has received recognised training. The nature of the machine dictates that it should be kept in a separate area, away from pupils and where the user will not become distracted during operation.

Some sheet material used with a circular saw requires a substantial amount of space at saw-table level for operation. A ‘take-off’ table should always be used when large sheets are being processed, as the saw table itself is generally inadequate to support full-size sheets. The distance between the blade and the back of the saw table or ‘take-off’ table must be no less than 1200mm. Schools with limited space may find a small saw model with a portable side or extension table for handling wider sheets more suitable. A circular saw should be fitted with a key-operated isolator switch and a foot- or knee-operated switch should be fitted as an additional safety feature.

Local exhaust ventilation must be provided for this machine if it is used frequently. Some rigidly constructed exhaust units will sit adjacent to the machine and provide a ‘take-off’ table surface as well. Where a circular saw has to be used in a workshop it must be used at times when other dust-producing machines are not in use. The floor in the area where the saw is housed should be level, non-slip and well maintained.

Work zones around this machine and the planer can be shared because a) it is likely that only one machine will be in use at one time and b) there is less likelyhood of misuse with these staff only machines.

Note that an isolator switch should be provided on or adjacent to this machine.

Home First time visitors Activities Assessing Need Planning Room layouts Furniture Machines and equipment Health and safety Bandsaw Circular Saw Double buffing machine Hacksaw Horizontal grindstone Metal lathe Milling machine Planer / thicknesser Pillar drilling machine Sanding machine Wood lathe Hot-metal equipment Brazing hearth Chip forge Crucible furnace Moulding bench Bench-mounted machines Plastics equipment CAD/CAM equipment Heavier CAD/CAM machinery Food preparation equipment Sewing machines on a bench References and links Site map
		The circular saw has a large rotary blade which can cut down large sheets of manufactured board and timber. The saw must only be used by a technician or teacher who has received recognised training. The nature of the machine dictates that it should be kept in a separate area, away from pupils and where the user will not become distracted during operation. Some sheet material used with a circular saw requires a substantial amount of space at saw-table level for operation. A ‘take-off’ table should always be used when large sheets are being processed, as the saw table itself is generally inadequate to support full-size sheets. The distance between the blade and the back of the saw table or ‘take-off’ table must be no less than 1200mm. Schools with limited space may find a small saw model with a portable side or extension table for handling wider sheets more suitable. A circular saw should be fitted with a key-operated isolator switch and a foot- or knee-operated switch should be fitted as an additional safety feature. Local exhaust ventilation must be provided for this machine if it is used frequently. Some rigidly constructed exhaust units will sit adjacent to the machine and provide a ‘take-off’ table surface as well. Where a circular saw has to be used in a workshop it must be used at times when other dust-producing machines are not in use. The floor in the area where the saw is housed should be level, non-slip and well maintained. Work zones around this machine and the planer can be shared because a) it is likely that only one machine will be in use at one time and b) there is less likelyhood of misuse with these staff only machines. Note that an isolator switch should be provided on or adjacent to this machine.