Did you know that World Health and Safety Day takes place every April 28th? 

Today we’re going to be focusing on the importance of health and safety within the workplace, and why it is a necessity to consider. 

With powerful machinery such as industrial bandsaws and circular saws, health and safety should always be a priority. With this upcoming Health and Safety Day at Work, we’re going to take the opportunity to cover some of the regulations in the industry, and basic requirements for operating this machinery safely. 

What is World Health and Safety Day at Work? 

Also known as World Day for Safety and Health at Work, this day highlights the importance of our actions, raising awareness for a safe working environment. 

THSP notes the background and history behind this day: 

“The International Labour Organization (ILO) started the initiative in 2003 to promote safe and healthy work across the world. Each year, it focuses on creating and upkeeping a safety and health culture [that] can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries that happen at work.” 

This year, the focus is on the impact and implications that climate change is having on overall health and safety within a working environment. As a result of changing weather patterns, examples include: excessive heat; air pollution; extreme weather events; and more. 

Saw industry regulations to be aware of?  

When it comes to industrial machinery, there are some rules and regulations to consider. One of those is the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Although originally designed for woodworking machinery, most of the points are transferable to all machinery within the industry. As stated, the key points are: 

• “Suitable for the use it was intended for
• Safe to use and maintained and inspected regularly to make sure it is correctly installed and hasn’t deteriorated 
• Only used by individuals who have had the appropriate instruction and training
• Combined with the appropriate health and safety measures – guarding, appropriate means of isolation from energy sources, emergency stop device, visible warnings and markings
• Used following the specific requirements” 

General health and safety for operating industrial saws? 

Below we’ve put together a general health and safety checklist on how your team can keep safe when using industrial circular saws and bandsaws. Here are the main points to be aware of: 

• Wear PPE. This includes safety goggles and hearing protection, and for certain materials, a dust mask will be required. 
• Conduct employee training on the proper use of the machines 
• Keep safety guards in place when the machines aren’t in use 
• Keep emergency power shut-offs within reach when using 

Further information on general health and safety can be found in our blog, The Importance of Machine Safety. 

If you have any questions or would like more information/advice, do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert team.