Table Saw Safety

Summary of Safe Operating Procedures for the Table Saw (printable version)
 Do not crosscut boards less than 12” wide with the rip fence.
 Make sure the miter guide is locked in at the correct angle.
 Do not use a fence and miter guide at the same time without using a spacer or gauge block.
 To rip, the material must be straight and true on at least one face and one edge.
 Check that the rip fence is securely latched in place before beginning a rip cut.
 Always use the proper blade for the job
 Disconnect the main power switch when changing blades or whenever the throat plate is removed. See picture -> [work in progress, to insert picture]
 Do not adjust the fence or miter guide while the saw is running.
 Do not ever attempt to “freehand” wood through a table saw. Always use a fence or miter guide.
 Make sure the blade can move freely and is not contacting the workpiece before turning on the saw.
 Use a featherboard when ripping narrow boards.
 Use a blade guard with splitter and anti-kickback fingers whenever possible, and particularly when ripping.
 If not using a blade guard, always use a riving knife (except with a dado blade)
 Adjust the blade height so that the bottoms of the gullets between the teeth are at or just below the surface of the board you are cutting.
 Using a zero-clearance insert will prevent small strips from being drawn down with the blade and causing a jam.
 Use a GR-Ripper or other push pad or push stick whenever the blade guard is not in place or whenever the fence is less than 6” from the blade.
 Do not stand directly in line with the blade.
 Do not put your hands within 4 inches of a moving blade.
 Never force wood that will not move freely.
 Do not reach over or behind the blade to retrieve a cutoff until the blade has stopped completely.
 Do not release the work piece until it is clear of the blade.
 Never walk away from the saw while it is still running. Wait for the blade to coast to a stop.