5 Safety Tips to Follow When Using a Miter Saw

When making angled cuts on wooden workpieces, you should consider using a miter saw. There are many different types of saws. Miter saws, however, are ideal for angled cuts. They are designed to pivot from side to side. As a result, you adjust the cutting angle of a miter saw. If you're going to use a miter saw, however, you should follow these five essential safety tips.

#1) Inspect the Blade Guard

Before using a miter saw, take a moment to inspect the blade guard. Like many cutting tools, miter saws typically feature a piece of plastic that covers the blade. Known as a blade guard, it's an important safety feature. The blade guard creates a barrier between your hands and the miter saw's blade. If it's missing or damaged, you shouldn't use the miter saw.

#2) Wait for Blade to Stop Spinning

You should wait for the miter saw's blade to stop spinning before lifting it. The blade, of course, will quickly spin so that it can cut through wooden workpieces. Even after cutting all the way through a wooden workpiece, though, the blade may continue to spin for a little while longer. If you lift the miter saw prematurely, the spinning blade could strike you. To err on the side of caution, wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before lifting the miter saw.

#3) Keep Hands Away From the Blade

The golden rule of using a miter saw is to keep your hands away from the blade. Miter saws do, in fact, have a blade guard. But the blade guard only covers the sides and top of the blade; it doesn't cover the bottom. Placing your hands underneath the blade could result in serious injury. Therefore, you should keep your hands away from the blade. The only time you should touch the blade is when changing or adjusting it -- and that's only if the miter saw has been disconnected from its power source. 

#4) Wear a Dust Mask

A dust mask is an important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for miter saws. As you may know, miter saws are designed for use with wooden workpieces. You can use them to make angled cuts on wooden workpieces. Cutting through wood, of course, will create dust. Wood dust typically isn't toxic, but it can still respiratory ailments. Fortunately, a dust mask will prevent you from accidentally inhaling this dust.

#5) Allow Motor to Reach Maximum Speed Before Cutting

Another safety tip to follow when using a miter saw is to allow the motor to reach maximum speed before cutting. It may only take a few seconds. Regardless, attempting to use a miter saw before the motor has reached maximum speed may result in injury. The miter saw may struggle to cut through the wooden workpiece. Instead, it may kick back.