Merge pull request #122 from edinburghhacklab/table-saw-review

table saw: review by gandolf

Author: iykdw

syllabuses/Workshop/Table Saw/risk-assessment.md

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # Table Saw
 
-## Injuries due contact with body
+<!-- Last reviewed: 2025-07-15 by Gandolf and Aria -->
+
+## Injuries due to contact with body
 
 ### Severity
 
@@ -12,13 +14,13 @@ M
 
 ### Who may be harmed & how
 
-- User - the user may be injured by deep cuts on the cutting edge or irritation and abrasion on the other sides
+- User - the user may be injured by deep cuts from the cutting edge, or irritation and abrasion from the side of the blade
 
 ### Control measures
 
 - Signage - standard "moving blades" signage, signage showing required PPE, signage showing safe hand distance and saw path
-- Training - users trained in safe use of table saw, instructed to keep hands out of path of the table saw
-- Equipment - saw stowed down while not cutting, first aid kit available
+- Training - users will be trained in safe use of table saw, and must keep hands out of path of the table saw
+- Equipment - saw stowed while not cutting, first aid kit available
 
 ## Injuries due to kickback
 
@@ -58,9 +60,9 @@ L
 
 ### Control measures
 
-- Signage - signage indicating high noise levels, recommended PPE, and loud materials are displayed
-- Training - users are instructed to use appropriate PPE, advised which materials may produce loud operation
-- Equipment - users use hearing protection such as ear plugs or ear defenders during operation
+- Equipment - users must use provided hearing protection during operation
+- Training - users are instructed to use appropriate PPE
+- Signage - signage indicating high noise levels and required PPE
 
 ## Injury due to airborne particles
 
@@ -75,32 +77,31 @@ L
 ### Who may be harmed & how
 
 - Users of the room - anyone in the room may sustain injury from inhalation or contact with eyes of small particles produced
-  by sawing of the substrate
+  by sawing of certain materials
 
 ### Control measures
 
-- Signage - signage particulate hazards and recommended PPE are displayed
-- Training - users are instructed to wear appropriate PPE
+- Signage - particulate hazards and recommended PPE are displayed
+- Training - users are instructed to wear appropriate PPE, and on appropriate materials
 - Equipment - extractor is installed, users must wear appropriate eye protection and an FFP2 (N95) rated respirator or
-  mask, eye wash kit is available
+  mask for applicable materials, eye wash kit is available
 
-## Body part or clothing is caught in moving parts
+## Body part, clothing, or jewelery is caught in moving parts
 
 ### Severity
 
-M
+H
 
 ### Likelihood
 
 L
 
 ### Who may be harmed & how
 
-- User - the user may experience injuries such as stretch, crush, or pinch injuries and cuts, irritation or abrasion
-  from the blade
+- User - the user may experience as stretch, crush, or pinch injuries. If pulled into blade, user may experience cuts, irritation or abrasion injuries.
 
 ### Control measures
 
 - Signage - signage indicating moving parts and pinch points is displayed
-- Training - users are instructed to remove or secure loose clothing and long hair
+- Training - users must secure long hair, and remove or secure loose clothing and jewelery
 - Equipment - first aid kit available

syllabuses/Workshop/Table Saw/syllabus.md

@@ -1,34 +1,33 @@
 # Table Saw
 
+<!-- Last reviewed: 2025-07-15 by Gandolf and Aria -->
+
 ## Safety
 
 ### PPE
 
 * Safety glasses required
 * Hearing protection required
-* Respirator recommended
+* Respirator recommended - required for certain materials (ie MDF)
 
 ### Entanglement risks
 
-* No loose clothing or cables
+* No loose clothing
 * No gloves
 * Long hair must be tied back
-* No jewellery/watches
+* No loose jewellery (i.e. rings, watches) or accessories (i.e. cables).
 
 ### Kickback risks
 
 * Ensure riving knife is properly installed:
-  * The radial clearance between saw blade and riving knife
-may not exceed 5 mm (max.).
-  * The thickness of the riving knife must be smaller than the
-cutting width and greater than the blade thickness.
+  * The radial clearance between saw blade and riving knife may not exceed 5 mm (max.).
+  * The thickness of the riving knife must be smaller than the cutting width and greater than the blade thickness.
   * The riving knife must always be in a line to the saw blade.
 * Stand with torso away from the cut line.
-* Ensure the full length of the workpiece is in contact with the parallel guide while cutting.
+* Ensure that as much as possible of the workpiece's length is in contact with the parallel guide while cutting.
 * Always use an angle guide when cross-cutting.
-* Never back stock off blade.
-* If the saw blade should become jammed, switch the machine off and hold the workpiece until the saw blade comes to a complete stop. To prevent kickback, the workpiece may not be moved until after the machine has come to a complete stop.
-
+* Never back stock off blade while running.
+* If the saw blade should become jammed, switch the machine off and hold the workpiece until the saw blade comes to a complete stop. To prevent kickback, the workpiece may not be moved until after the blade has come to a complete stop.
 
 ## Startup checks
 
@@ -45,24 +44,28 @@ cutting width and greater than the blade thickness.
 * Power off when performing checks
 * Aligned correctly
 * All adjustments tightened
-  * Pay particular attention to the position of the locking lever for locking the saw blade and for adjusting the bevel angle.
-* Always adjust the blade guard in such a manner that it faces loosely against the workpiece when
-sawing.
-* Blade guard does not interfere with the workpiece
+  * Pay particular attention to the position of the locking lever for the bevel angle.
+  <!-- We don't have a lock for the blade height. -->
+* If using the blade guard,  adjust it so that it faces loosely against the workpiece when sawing.
+* Ensure blade guard does not interfere with the workpiece
 * No damage to blade
 * Blade can be spun freely
 * Adjust blade height by turning the crank until upper saw teeth are ~ 5mm above the workpiece.
+* Blade is perpendicular to table (if sawing at 0°)
 
 ### Workpiece free of any metals (nails, screws), glass etc.
 
 ### Workpiece has a straight factory edge aligned to the parallel guide
-* Do not saw warped/bent workpieces.
 
-### Wide workpieces must be underlaid or supported at their free end.
+* Workpiece should lay flat on the table.
+
+### Wide workpieces must be underlaid or supported at their free side.
+
 * Check manual on how to pull out the saw-table extension.
 
 ### For very long pieces, use an extra support roller or someone to bear the stock.
-* The “off bearer” is only there to support stock and should not pull stock through stock.
+
+* The “off bearer” is only there to support stock and should not pull stock through.
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -71,19 +74,19 @@ sawing.
 * Turn on the extractor wall fan.
 * Turn on the dust extraction unit under the table saw.
 * Tap your tag on the access control
-* Open the yellow switch cover, and press the green button.
+* Open the red switch cover, and press the green button.
 
 ### Stopping of the machine
 
-* Open the switch cover, and press the red button.
+* Hit the switch cover, or open it and press the red button.
 
 ### Sawing straight cuts
 
-* Set the parallel guide at desired distance and lock it in place.
+* Set the parallel guide at desired width and lock it in place.
 
 * Use push sticks and auxiliary guide when cutting narrow pieces (10cm rule of thumb)
   * Have push sticks ready before starting the cut.
-  * Check manual on how to install auxiliary guide.
+  * Check manual on how to install auxiliary guide if needed.
 
 * Saw by feeding the workpiece at a uniform rate
 * Ensure that the flat edge of the workpiece must always be touching the parallel guide.
@@ -94,30 +97,28 @@ sawing.
 
 * Adjust the requested mitre angle
 * Place the workpiece against profile rail.
-  * The profile may not be on the cutting line. If so, loosen knurled nut and move the profile.
-
+  * The profile may not be on the cutting line. If so, loosen knurled nut and move the profile.
 * With one hand, press the workpiece against the profile rail and with the other hand, slowly move the angle stop via locking knob toward the front in guide groove.
 
 ### General
 
-* Never saw freehand
+* Never saw freehand unless confident and supervised.
 * Never clear small pieces while blade is moving
 * Never adjust blade height, angle, or any other parts while blade is moving
-* Keep hands away from blade (never reach across the blade, or over-reach)
-* Use of push sticks is a must if hand will come closer than 10 cm to the blade.
+* Keep hands away from blade while it is moving (never reach across the blade, or over-reach)
+* Use of push sticks is a must if hand would otherwise come closer than 10 cm to the blade.
 * To ensure the workpiece is in contact with the parallel guide, the force exerted on the workpiece should be at a slight angle toward the fence (as opposed to purely parallel to the blade).
-  * One tip is to focus where the workpiece is with respect to the parallel guide, rather than the blade (while keeping awareness of the blade!).
+  * One tip is to focus where the workpiece is with respect to the parallel guide, rather than the blade (while keeping awareness of the blade!).
+* Consider doing a practice cut with scrap wood if sawing mitres, and measuring that the angle is correct.
 
 ### Intended Use (a.k.a Materials)
 
-
-* The power tool is intended as a stationary machine for making
-straight lengthways and crossways cuts in hard and softwood, as well as in particle and fibre board.
+* The power tool is intended as a stationary machine for making straight lengthways and crossways cuts in hard and softwood, as well as in particle and fibre board.
 * In this, mitre angles from –60° to +60° as well as bevel angles from –2° to 47° are possible.
 * When using appropriate saw blades, sawing aluminium profiles and plastic is also possible.
-* Maximum Workpiece Dimensions:
-  - 79mm at 0° bevel angle
-  - 56mm at 45° bevel angle
+* Maximum workpiece thickness:
+  - 79mm at 0° bevel angle
+  - 56mm at 45° bevel angle
 
 ### Post Cutting
 
@@ -126,10 +127,12 @@ straight lengthways and crossways cuts in hard and softwood, as well as in parti
 * Place the push-sticks back in their place.
 * Fully lower the blade
 * Turn off the dust extraction unit.
+* Turn off wall fan
 
 ## Maintenance
 
 ### General
 
 * If there are any issues, please contact a maintainer listed on the table saw wiki page. Example issues: damaged blade, terrible noises from moving parts.
 * Do not attempt to change the blade without a maintainer present, and notify the other members if the blade is intended for specific materials only.
+  * Consider changing back to the regular blade if you don't want others to use yours.