Bandsaws and Band Resaws Safety Checklist

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Bandsaws and Band Resaws Safety Checklist

• Bandsaw wheels must be full encased.
• The outside periphery of the enclosure must be solid.
• The front and back of the band wheels must be either enclosed by solid material or by wire mesh or perforated metal.
• The wire mesh or perforated metal must not be less than 0.037 inch (U.S. Gage No. 20), and the openings must not be greater than 3/8 inch.
• The portion of the blade between the sliding guide and the upper-saw wheel guard is guarded at the front and outer side. (See picture below - unused portion of the blade is not guarded and must be corrected.)
  

• The guard should be self-adjusting and raise/lower with the guide.
• The upper-wheel guard must conform to the travel of the saw on the wheel.
• Each bandsaw must be provided with a tension control device to indicate a proper tension for the standard saws used on the machine, and reduce the chance of saw breakage due to improper tension.
• Feed rolls of band resaws must be protected with a suitable guard to prevent the hands of the operator from coming in contact with the in-running rolls at any point.
• The guard must be constructed of a heavy material, preferably metal.
• The edge of the guard comes to within 3/8 inch of the plane that is formed by the inside face of the feed roll in contact with the stock being cut.

Contact Information

Robin McCall-Miller, Occupational Safety Program Manager

• Call: 540-231-2341
• Email: rmmiller@vt.edu