Masonry Saw Safety

Proper safety gear protects saw operators from injury.

Cutting masonry products, such as brick and concrete, creates harmful dust and flying shards of sharp debris. Whether using walk-behind concrete saws or hand-held cut-off saws and grinders, masonry saw operators must follow safety procedures to avoid injury.

Safety Gear

Four types of safety gear are necessary during masonry saw operation: eye protection, ear protection, respiratory protection and body protection. Saw operators must wear goggles to protect them from shards of masonry materials and sparks, ear plugs or muffs to prevent hearing loss, a dust mask or respirator to protect from airborne contaminants, gloves and full-body coverings to protect the body.

Cut Speed

Masonry materials are hard and dense. Forcing a masonry saw blade through materials often causes the blade to bind and kick-back at saw operators. Particularly when using small masonry saws, the operator must begin the cut at a shallow depth and ease the blade through the work surface.

Right Tool for the Task

Choosing the wrong tool for the job often causes injury. For example, if you intend to cut an elevated surface, such as a concrete wall, use a lightweight cut-off saw or angle grinder. Do not use a tool that is either too weak or too powerful for a job.

References

• North Carolina State University: Small Power Tool Safety
• University of Hawaii: Circular Saw Safety