Abstract

Radial saws are widely used, and are a major source of accidents. The causes of such accidents have not been characterized. Using statistical data from the CSS T (Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec, Québec Occupational Health and Safety Commission), a literature review, and site visits, the characteristics of radial saw accidents were determined.

The study revealed that only a quarter of the accidents occurred during actual sawing. The majority of accidents were associated with secondary activities such as holding the workpiece, retrieval of the cut piece, and waste disposal. The main causes identified were the absence or inadequacy of blade guards, blade seizures in the workpiece, failure of the saw to return to its initial position following a cut, and the inadequacy of waste and dust disposal systems.

Study recommendations included the development of workstation-specific non-interfering blade guards, and of workpiece stabilizers.