IV. Scene Shop Safety

 

If your work in the CPAC involves using the Scene Shop, you will be responsible for the information in this section. 

A.  General Shop Safety

Use only tools that you have been checked out on.
Ask your supervisor for a lesson before using an alien piece of equipment; seeing someone else use it is not an adequate training method.

Clear the Area.
The table surface should be clear and especially the area around your feet. Do not stand on scrap wood or work in cramped areas; give yourself lots of elbow room. You should have nothing blocking your light.

Wear proper safety equipment.
What you should and must wear differs from material to material or from tool to tool. Learn the appropriate attire for each, protection of your eyes is a must. Ear protection is required for most machines; periods of short and long exposure to noise has an accumulated effect and working around loud machines will eventually damage your hearing.

Check the lumber.
We reuse lumber, so nails, staples or even screws may be hidden below the surface of every board you pick up in the shop. Check what you are cutting before you cut. Do not cut through staples or nails as they will not only endanger yourself and those around you, they will also damage blades and equipment.

Observe safety zones.
The power tools are very good at cutting, sanding and boring holes but they are also fairly efficient at injuring you. Keep your fingers and other body parts away from the moving parts of the equipment. In addition to the personal safety zones some tools have a working area that you should not cross through when someone else is using the tool. The table saw, for example, needs a lot of room in front of and behind to accommodate long materials feeding through it; do not walk through this zone when someone else is ripping material.

Reset the area after you have finished.
Return the tool back to its default position when finished. If you have erected fixtures or used jigs such as stop blocks or more elaborate setups involving clamps etc, remove these from the tool area. Return safety items such as push sticks to their home position. Clear the tool area of debris such as cutoffs and dust. Return unused materials and tools to the proper storage area.


B.  Specific Tool Safety


 Table Saw

Personal Safety Items: Eye protection, ear protection, possibly a dust mask
Material best suited for: Ripping Wood products only. 

  • Use rip fence, miter gauge, hold-downs, push block, anti kick-back devices and feather boards as instructed.
  • The blade should be no higher than ¼” above the material surface.
  • Hold the work firmly against the miter gauge or rip fence.
  • Operate the saw with your body positioned out of line with the blade.
  • Do not cut free hand. Always use the miter gauge or rip fence.
  • Feed wood with a push block when the fence is positioned within 10 inches of the blade.
  • Avoid awkward positions that could lead to a sudden slip and contact with the blade.
  • Support material that extends beyond the tool surface using roller tables.

Unless you are using a special set-up, the guard must always be in place
If you must change the blade contact the shop foreman.

Band Saw

Personal safety items: eye and ear protection, possibly a dust mask.
Material best suited for: In our shop the band saw primarily cuts wood and plastics; in other shops they are also used to cut metal as well as wood depending on the blade.

  • Adjust the upper blade guide just above the material being cut.
  • Keep hands away from the front of the blade. If a material suddenly cuts faster than you expected you will find your fingers running into the blade area.
  • Make sure the blade tension and tracking is properly adjusted.
  • Make “relief” cuts before cutting long curves.
  • Do not cut pieces that are not flat to the table top. Contact supervisor before cutting wooden dowels, balls, or knobs. They are tricky and can pull your fingers into the blade.
  • Never brush off saw dust or small scrap wood with your fingers. Use a brush.
  • Have a bin close by when generating lots of small pieces rather than throwing them on the floor.

If you must change the blade, contact shop foreman.

Panel Saw

Personal safety equipment: eye and ear protection, possibly a dust mask.
Material best suited for: Use only with wood and reconstituted wood panels

  • Check the bottom edge of the piece you are cutting. If it is not true the entire length you could bind the saw. 
  • Assure that material on either side of blade will remain balanced after piece is cut. Sometimes a small piece will pivot if it is only in contact with one roller.
  • Keep fingers and body parts away from the path of the blade.

Slide Compound Saw

Personal safety equipment: eye and ear protection, possibly a dust mask
Material best suited for: only wood and reconstituted wood products, can also be used with some plastics including Styrofoam.

  • Check that all knobs are in proper position (locked or unlocked accordingly).
  • Take time to position and adjust the movable “slide fences.” 
  • When moving the turntable, move it gently and never force it.
  • Keep your fingers away from the cutting zone.  Use the vise assembly to clamp small pieces in place.

When finished with this saw relock it into its home position: 0 deg, non-sliding, teeth below the kerf plate. Be sure to lock the sliding mechanism.

Metal Chop Saw

Personal safety equipment: faceshield, ear protection, long sleeves and gloves.
Material best suited for: Use only with metal forms. Use only outside.

  • Keep fingers and other body parts clear of the blade.
  • Secure material to be cut with built in clamp.
  • Watch for razor sharp edges when handling cut material. These need to be de-burred so that someone else doesn’t cut themselves.
  • Freshly cut metal is hot! Allow to cool before handling or quench if necessary.

  Horizontal / Vertical Band Saw

Personal safety equipment: eye and ear protection.
Material best suited for: Use only with metal forms.

  • Adjust pneumatic piston for correct cutting speed.
  • Use supports so that long metal forms won’t spring up as they are cut.
  • Keep fingers and other body parts clear of the blade.
  • Do not leave saw unattended!
  • Watch for razor sharp edges when handling cut material. These need to be de-burred so that someone else doesn’t cut themselves.
  • Freshly cut metal may be hot, use caution when handling
  • DO NOT wear gloves.