I recently experienced my first kickback while using a table saw, and it was terrifying! With over 15 years in the industry, including jobs as a contractor and cabinet maker, I've always prioritized safety. Thankfully, I didn't injure myself, but it made me realize I need to address some safety concerns in the shop. I've noticed that the saw's fence seems to be about 1/8" off from front to back. When I told my boss about it, he didn't seem too concerned and suggested using an older saw instead. This isn't the first safety issue we've had — he had a similar kickback with the same saw just a month ago. I'm worried he'll only do the bare minimum to fix the problems. Now I'm considering whether I should report this to OSHA, but I fear that could jeopardize my job and the boss's business. I just want to make sure we are safe at work!
3 Answers
Honestly, just fix the fence. Everyone in the shop will thank you for taking the time to make it safer, and you might earn some respect for looking out for everyone’s safety. It's a good use of your time!
Make sure to install a riving knife too. It’s critical for preventing kickbacks. Although, knowing your situation, it might have been thrown out. You definitely need to address that!
It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to calibrate the fence. If it’s truly out of square by 1/8”, then there might be bigger issues with the setup of your shop too! Just check the whole system to be safe.
Yeah, that’s probably true. I wish I could just install one, but I don’t think it was kept around when the saw was set up.