In the world of manufacturing, metalworking, and woodworking, band saws – vertical and horizontal alike – are indispensable tools. While they contribute immensely to operational efficiency, they also pose significant safety risks if not handled and safeguarded appropriately. Today, we’ll delve into how to make these machines safer for operators, thereby mitigating potential accidents.
Understanding the Dangerous Areas of a Band Saw
To guard against risks, it’s vital first to identify the danger zones of a band saw. Below, we will look at the areas of safety concern.
Saw Blade
A band saw would be useless without the saw blade, as it performs the actual cut into the material. The edges of the saw blades have highly sharp teeth to cut through various materials such as wood and steel efficiently. Accidentally contact with the blade can cause cuts and scrapes even when not in motion.
Any exposed portion of a moving blade is hazardous, including the part of the blade that operates underneath the table. We often overlook this area, but it can pose a significant danger if operators accidentally come into contact with it.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Use blade guards and cover as much of the blade as possible, only exposing the used portion. Fully guard any unused parts of the band saw blade.
- Ensure that the blade guides are correctly adjusted and maintained.
- Add a chip shield where the blade meets the workpiece to prevent chip and coolant ejections. Click here to see examples of band saw guards.
- Implement safety devices that can help stop the blade quickly in the case of an emergency. Such devices include emergency stop buttons and foot-controlled switches.
- Here is one that we don’t think of often: Maintain blade sharpness. A dull blade can cause the operator to exert extra force when cutting, increasing the likelihood of slips leading to contact with the blade. Regular maintenance should include replacing dull blades.
- Ensure that your saw has blade brushes and is properly installed and maintained. These brushes remove chips and debris from the blades and help prevent jams.
Generated Heat
Heat generation is a fundamental aspect of a band saw’s operation that can also contribute to potential hazards. The friction produced when a saw blade cuts through a material, particularly dense or hard materials, generates substantial heat. The heat can build up rapidly, causing the blade to become hot to the touch and sometimes even glow visibly if the conditions are extreme enough.
If an operator, unaware of this heat, touches the blade or workpiece shortly after the operation, they could suffer burns. Additionally, excessive heat can degrade the blade over time, dulling its cutting edge and potentially leading to more frequent blade replacements. It can also warp or otherwise damage the workpiece.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Use coolants or cutting fluids to reduce friction between the blade and material, thus limiting heat generation.
- Don’t use dull saw blades because that will cause the machine to work harder to cut material and generate more heat.
- Using heat-resistant gloves can protect operators from accidentally touching a hot blade or workpiece. Face shields or safety goggles can also help protect against hot splashes from coolants or cutting fluids.
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Kickback
Kickback is a significant safety concern when operating band saws and other cutting tools. It occurs when the workpiece is not adequately secured or is fed too rapidly into the blade, causing a sudden reactive force. This force can violently propel the material back toward the operator, potentially leading to severe injuries.
In worst-case scenarios, your hands or fingers can be thrust into the moving blade due to the kickback. Kickback can also cause damage to the material being cut or even to the saw itself. It is a phenomenon that underscores the importance of proper handling and feeding of materials into the saw, maintaining the blade’s sharpness and correct tension, and adhering to all relevant safety protocols.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Use the correct blade for the material to reduce the chance of the saw blade jamming or fouling up with the material. For example, don’t use a high-density tooth pitch to cut very thick material.
- Proper feed rate: Pushing the material through the saw too quickly can cause the blade to bind and cause kickback. Maintaining a consistent, appropriate feed rate can help prevent this.
- Always use a fence, miter gauge, or other guiding system to control the workpiece. Use a stock pusher or work holding jaw instead of your hands.
- Keep your hands as far away from the blade as possible.
- Always stand to the side and never directly in front of the blade and behind the workpiece.
- Ensure your workpiece is flat against the table – never cut freehand “in the air.”
- Ensure the workpiece is secured correctly, and do not cut multiples of stock at once, especially in a horizontal saw.
A bundle of round stock is cut on a horizontal band saw. This is hazardous and may damage the machine and cause a risk to the operator.
Wheel Access Covers
The wheel access covers enclose and protect the wheels that propel the blade. Inside these covers, you’ll typically find two large wheels positioned vertically (in a vertical band saw) or horizontally (in a horizontal band saw), around which the band saw blade is looped. The electric motor drives one of these wheels, which transmits power through belts or gears, propelling the other wheel, causing the blade to move.
The danger in this area of a band saw lies in the potential for accidental access or exposure. The wheels themselves move at high speed, and the blade, while moving around them, is extremely sharp – both of which can pose a serious risk of injury. Moreover, suppose the wheel access covers are not properly secured. In that case, they can unintentionally open while the machine runs, increasing the risk of accidents.
Another potential hazard is related to maintenance or adjustment activities. An operator or technician might need to access the wheels to adjust blade tension, align the blade, or perform other maintenance tasks. If the machine isn’t properly shut off and disconnected from its power source during these activities. In that case, the wheels can start moving unexpectedly, potentially causing injury.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Ensure you securely fasten the covers when the band saw is in operation. The covers must be bolted down, and opening them requires a unique tool like an Allen wrench.
- Use interlock devices: Install electrical interlocks (such as these) on each one of the wheel covers. These switches immediately cut power to the saw when the cover is opened, ensuring the wheels and blade stop before they can be accessed.
- Include the covers in the band saw’s regular maintenance schedule. This includes checking that they are secure, undamaged, and can effectively protect against contact with the wheels and blade.
Feed Mechanism
The feed mechanism on a band saw is the component that moves the raw stock into the path of the saw blade. On a horizontal band saw, typically used in metalworking, the feed mechanism often involves a hydraulic or pneumatic system that slowly and steadily pushes the material toward the blade. On a vertical band saw, typically used in woodworking, the feed mechanism is generally manual or uses gravity with cables and pulleys. In this case, the operator guides the material along the table and into the blade.
If an operator’s hand or finger gets caught in the feed mechanism, it can cause severe injury. This is mainly a risk on band saws with automatic feed mechanisms, where a computer controls the movement and can be difficult to stop quickly.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Install physical guards around the entire auto-feed mechanism on horizontal band saws. These systems are automatic and can move at any time without user intervention. It is vital to prevent access to the feeder mechanism in any capacity while the machine operates. A company such as Ferndale Safety can help design and build an enclosure for your specific machine.
- Train operators to understand the feed mechanism, including how to adjust it and what to do in case of a malfunction.
- An emergency stop control should be within the operator’s reach and on both sides of the feeder machine to allow for quick stoppage of the feed mechanism in an emergency.
- Post clear, easily readable safety signage near the band saw, including information related to the feed mechanism.
- Where possible, install an interlock system. These systems can prevent the feed mechanism from operating when the guard is not in place or if there are other unsafe conditions.
Coolant
Coolant, sometimes called cutting fluid, reduces heat and friction between the saw blade and the workpiece, enhancing the cutting process and extending the blade’s life. (See “Generated Heat” above)
Coolant can also present some safety risks. One primary hazard is the potential for slipping accidents. Spilled coolant on the floor can quickly become a slipping hazard, endangering operators or others who might pass by.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Operators should wear appropriate PPE when handling and working with coolant, including gloves, safety goggles, and possibly respiratory protection, depending on the specific type of coolant.
- Wipe up any spilled coolant immediately or use spill control supplies such as absorbent pads or socks.
Power Transmission
Power transmission components, which include drive belts, gears, pulleys, and more, transmit power from the motor to the blade. Given their high-speed rotation, accidental contact can be harmful.
Guarding and Safety Solutions:
- Fixed Guards: Permanent or hard-to-remove guards that cover rotating parts, pinch points, and other hazards. Examples include casings around gearboxes or covers on belts.
- Regular Maintenance and Inspection: Ensure belts aren’t worn out or too slack and check gearboxes for proper lubrication and wear.
- Inspect chains for proper tension and wear.
- Lockout/Tagout Procedures: Always follow these procedures when performing maintenance to ensure machinery is not accidentally powered on.
- Safety Signs: Clearly label potential hazards, such as “Moving Parts” or “High Temperature.” Also, indicate the need for personal protective equipment, such as gloves or safety glasses.
