[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.304]

[Page 230-231]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1926_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart I_Tools_Hand and Power
 
Sec. 1926.304  Woodworking tools.

    (a) Disconnect switches. All fixed power driven woodworking tools 
shall be provided with a disconnect switch that can either be locked or 
tagged in the off position.
    (b) Speeds. The operating speed shall be etched or otherwise 
permanently marked on all circular saws over 20 inches in diameter or 
operating at over 10,000 peripheral feet per minute. Any saw so marked 
shall not be operated at a speed other than that marked on the blade. 
When a marked saw is retensioned for a different speed, the marking 
shall be corrected to show the new speed.
    (c) Self-feed. Automatic feeding devices shall be installed on 
machines whenever the nature of the work will permit. Feeder attachments 
shall have the feed rolls or other moving parts covered or guarded so as 
to protect the operator from hazardous points.
    (d) Guarding. All portable, power-driven circular saws shall be 
equipped with guards above and below the base plate or shoe. The upper 
guard shall cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for the 
minimum arc required to permit the base to be tilted for bevel cuts. The 
lower guard shall cover the saw to the depth of the teeth, except for 
the minimum arc required to allow proper retraction and contact with the 
work. When the tool is withdrawn from the work, the lower guard shall 
automatically and instantly return to the covering position.
    (e) Personal protective equipment. All personal protective equipment 
provided for use shall conform to subpart E of this part.
    (f) Other requirements. All woodworking tools and machinery shall 
meet other applicable requirements of American National Standards 
Institute, 01.1-1961, Safety Code for Woodworking Machinery.
    (g) Radial saws. (1) The upper hood shall completely enclose the 
upper portion of the blade down to a point that will include the end of 
the saw arbor. The upper hood shall be constructed in such a manner and 
of such material that it will protect the operator from flying 
splinters, broken saw teeth, etc., and will deflect sawdust away from 
the operator. The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade shall 
be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will 
automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in 
contact with stock being cut to give maximum protection possible for the 
operation being performed.
    (h) Hand-fed crosscut table saws. (1) Each circular crosscut table 
saw shall be guarded by a hood which shall meet all the requirements of 
paragraph (i)(1) of this section for hoods for circular ripsaws.
    (i) Hand-fed ripsaws. (1) Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be 
guarded by a hood which shall completely enclose that portion of the saw 
above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being 
cut. The hood and mounting shall be arranged so that the

[[Page 231]]

hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in 
contact with the material being cut but it shall not offer any 
considerable resistance to insertion of material to saw or to passage of 
the material being sawed. The hood shall be made of adequate strength to 
resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, 
and handling, and shall be so designed as to protect the operator from 
flying splinters and broken saw teeth. It shall be made of material that 
is soft enough so that it will be unlikely to cause tooth breakage. The 
hood shall be so mounted as to insure that its operation will be 
positive, reliable, and in true alignment with the saw; and the mounting 
shall be adequate in strength to resist any reasonable side thrust or 
other force tending to throw it out of line.

[44 FR 8577, Feb. 9, 1979; 44 FR 20940, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 58 
FR 35175, June 30, 1993; 61 FR 9251, Mar. 7, 1996]