R 408.12728 Swing and sliding cut-off saws.

Rule 2728.(1) Swing and sliding cut-off saws or any other saw mounted above the table, except radial saws, shall have a hood-type guard designed so the upper half of the blade, arbor, and nut will be covered at all times. A hood-type guard or a device shall cover the lower half of the blade. It shall automatically adjust to the thickness of the stock. It shall remain in contact with the stock or table as it moves forward to cut or returns to the back of the table. It shall be constructed of not less than 14 gauge sheet metal or equivalent material and designed to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. (2) Where the saw is used by employees for production-type repetitive cuts and the upper portion of the blade, including the saw arbor, is completely enclosed, in lieu of the self-adjusting lower blade guard required by subrule (1) of this rule, a swing saw shall be guarded by 1 of the following methods: (a) A box-type guard as prescribed in Figure 1. (b) A fixed or adjustable barrier guard which protects the operator from inadvertently coming in contact with the saw teeth of the bottom portion, from the front or sides, of the blade. (c) A self-adjusting guard as prescribed in Figure 1A or 1B that will prevent employee exposure to the front of the saw blade by dropping onto the work piece before the blade starts the cut and remains in contact with the work piece until the saw is returned to the back of the table. (3) A swing cut-off saw shall have an effective device to return the saw automatically to the back of the table when released at any point in its travel. The device shall not depend upon any rope, cord, or spring for its proper functioning. A device shall be installed which prevents a rebound of the saw blade. If there is a counterweight, bolts supporting the bar and counterweight shall have cotter pins and the counterweight shall be prevented from dropping by a bolt passing through both the bar and counterweight or a bolt put through the extreme end of the bar, or where the counterweight does not encircle the bar, a safety chain attached to it. If the counterweight is exposed to contact, it shall be enclosed by a guard to the floor area guard that will hold twice the weight of the counterweight. (4) A swing cut-off saw shall have limit chains or other equally effective devices to prevent the saw from swinging beyond the front or back edges of the table, or beyond a forward position where the gullets of the lowest saw teeth will rise above the table top. (5) A sliding cut-off saw may have the lower half of the blade guarded as prescribed in Figure 1C in a manner that will restrict employee exposure to the front of the teeth by the guard dropping onto the work piece before the teeth start the cut and remaining in contact with the work piece until the saw is returned to the back of the table or is adjusted to remain within 3/8 inch of the work piece at all times. (6) Instead of the self-adjusting lower blade guard required by subrule (5) of this rule, the saw may be stroked by use of constant pressure controls located so that the operator cannot reach the saw blade. When the saw blade has been returned to its rearmost position, a lower enclosure or guard shall be provided to restrict inadvertent contact. (7) Figures 1, 1A, 1B, and 1C read as follows: FIGURES 1, 1A, 1B, 1C SWING SAW GUARDING FIGURE 1 FOR SWING SAW ONLY A = Must be twice the ‘C’ dimensions, min. 6” B = 3/8” max. C = Open, depends on stock thickness D = 3/8” max. E = 1/4" max. on each side of black FIGURE 1A SWING SAW HOOD FIGURE 1B FIGURE 1C SLIDE CUT OFF SAW GUARDING