Kickback is a result of saw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions. This can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as described
below.
a) Hold the saw firmly in both hands and posi-
tion your arms so that they can absorb the
force of a kickback. Always stand to the side
of the saw blade and never in line with it.
If a kickback occurs, the circular saw may jump
backwards. However, by taking appropriate
precautions, the operator can control the kick-
back forces.
b) If the saw blade jams or you stop working,
switch the saw off and hold it steadily in the
workpiece until the saw blade has completely
stopped turning. Never attempt to remove the
saw from the workpiece or pull it backwards
while the saw blade is still moving: this could
lead to a kickback. Investigate and take correc-
tive actions to eliminate the cause of the jam.
c) If you want to restart a saw that is still in the
workpiece, centre the saw blade in the cut
and check to ensure that the teeth are not
caught anywhere in the workpiece. If the saw
blade catches, it can jump out of the workpiece
or cause a kickback when the saw is restarted.
d) Support large panels to minimise the risk of
blade pinching and kickback. Large panels
tend to bend under their own weight. Panels
must be supported on both sides, in the vicinity
of the saw cut and also at the edge.
e) Do not use blunt or damaged saw blades.
Saw blades with blunt or misaligned teeth may
cause excessive friction if the saw cut is too
narrow, and this can cause a saw blade jam
and a kickback.
PTS 20-Li A1
f) Before sawing, ensure that the fastenings for
the cut depth and cut angle settings are tight-
ened. If the settings change while sawing, the
saw blade can jam and cause a kickback.
g) Be particularly careful when sawing in existing
walls or other obscured areas. The saw blade
could get caught on hidden objects and cause
a kickback.
Specific safety instructions for this
saw
Function of the blade guard
a) Before every use, check to ensure that the
blade guard closes properly. Do not use the
saw if the blade guard does not move freely
and does not close immediately. Never clamp
or fasten the blade guard open; this would
leave the saw blade unprotected. If the saw is
accidentally dropped, the blade guard might
bend. Ensure that the blade guard moves freely
and does not touch the saw blade or other
parts at any cutting angles or depths.
b) Check the condition and function of the spring
for the blade guard. Have the saw serviced
before using it if the blade guard and spring
are not working properly. Damaged parts,
sticky deposits or accumulations of chippings can
cause the lower blade guard to operate slowly.
c) When making a "plunge cut" that is not at
right angles, secure the base plate of the
saw to prevent any lateral movement. Lateral
movement can cause the saw blade to jam,
thus causing a kickback.
d) Do not leave the saw on the work bench or
floor if the blade guard is not fully covering
the saw blade. An unprotected, coasting saw
blade will move the saw in the opposite direc-
tion to the cutting direction and saw anything in
its path. Always take into account that the saw
blade takes some time to stop spinning.
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