WARNING: Always wear ear protection where the sound level exceeds 85dB(A) and limit the
time of exposure if necessary. If sound levels are uncomfortable, even with ear protection,
stop using the tool immediately and check the ear protection is correctly fitted and provides
the correct level of sound attenuation for the level of sound produced by your tool.
WARNING: User exposure to tool vibration can result in loss of sense of touch, numbness,
tingling and reduced ability to grip. Long-term exposure can lead to a chronic condition.
If necessary, limit the length of time exposed to vibration and use anti-vibration
gloves. Do not operate the tool with hands below a normal comfortable temperature,
as vibration will have a greater effect. Use the figures provided in the specification
relating to vibration to calculate the duration and frequency of operating the tool.
Sound and vibration levels in the specification are determined according to international
standards. The figures represent normal use for the tool in normal working conditions.
A poorly maintained, incorrectly assembled, or misused tool, may produce increased levels of
noise and vibration. www.osha.europa.eu provides information on sound and vibration levels
in the workplace that may be useful to domestic users who use tools for long periods of time.
General Power Tool Safety Warnings
WARNING: Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications
provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result in
electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
The term "power tool" in the warnings refers to your mains-operated (corded) power tool or
battery-operated (cordless) power tool.
1) Work area safety
a) Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
b) Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of
flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or
fumes.
c) Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool. Distractions can
cause you to lose control.
2) Electrical safety
a) Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not
use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs and
matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.
b) Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such as pipes, radiators,
ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is
earthed or grounded.
c) Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will
increase the risk of electric shock.
d) Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the
power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Damaged or
entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
e) When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for outdoor
use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric shock.
f) If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a residual current
device (RCD) protected supply. Use of an RCD reduces the risk of electric shock.
3) Personal safety
a) Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power
tool. Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence of drugs,
alcohol or medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in
serious personal injury.
b) Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Protective equipment
such as a dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat or hearing protection used for
appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
c) Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is in the OFF-position before
connecting to power source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying the tool.
Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or energising power tools that have the
switch ON invites accidents.
d) Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the power tool ON. A wrench or a
key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool may result in personal injury.
e) Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. This enables better
control of the power tool in unexpected situations.
f) Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery. Keep your hair and clothing
away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery or long hair can be caught in moving
parts.
g) If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and collection facilities,
ensure these are connected and properly used. Use of dust collection can reduce dust-
related hazards.
h) Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of tools allow you to become
complacent and ignore tool safety principles. A careless action can cause severe injury
within a fraction of a second.
4) Power tool use and care
a) Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your application. The
correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
b) Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it ON and OFF. Any power tool that
cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
c) Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or remove the battery pack,
if detachable, from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing
accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of
starting the power tool accidentally.
d) Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons
unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate the power tool. Power
tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
e) Maintain power tools and accessories. Check for misalignment or binding of moving
parts, breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the power tool's
operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired before use. Many accidents are
caused by poorly maintained power tools.
f) Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting
edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
g) Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits, etc. in accordance with these
instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be
performed. Use of the power tool for operations different from those intended could result
in a hazardous situation.
h) Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean and free from oil and grease. Slippery
handles and grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and control of the tool in
unexpected situations.
5) Service
a) Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical
replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.
Safety Instructions for all Saws
Cutting procedures
a) DANGER: Keep hands away from cutting area and blade. Keep your second hand on
auxiliary handle, or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw, they cannot be cut
by the blade.
b) Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard cannot protect you from the blade
below the workpiece.
c) Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of the workpiece. Less than a full tooth of the
blade teeth should be visible below the workpiece.
d) Never hold the piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. Secure the
workpiece to a stable platform. It is important to support the work properly to minimize
body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
e) Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an operation
where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or its own cord. Contact with a "live"
wire will also make exposed metal parts of the power tool "live" and shock the operator.
f) When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This improves the
accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of the blade binding.
g) Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond versus round) of arbour
holes. Blades that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw will run eccentrically,
causing loss of control.
h) Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolt. The blade washers and bolt
were specially designed for your saw, for optimum performance and safety of operation.
Further Safety Instructions for all
Saws
Kickback causes and related warnings
• Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, jammed or misaligned saw blade, causing an
uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.
• When the blade is pinched or jammed tightly by the kerf closing down, the blade stalls and
the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator.
• If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the back edge of the
blade can dig into the top surface of the wood causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and
jump back toward operator.
Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and
can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
a) Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your arms to resist
kickback forces. Position your body to either side of the blade, but not in line with
the blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump backwards, but kickback forces can be
controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.
b) When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for any reason, release the trigger
and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade comes to a complete stop.
Never attempt to remove the saw from the work or pull the saw backward while the
blade is in motion or kickback may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to
eliminate the cause of blade binding.
c) When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre the saw blade in the kerf and check
that the saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it may
walk up or kick back from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
d) Support large panels to minimum the risk of blade pinching and kickback. Large
panels tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel on
both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel.
e) Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce a
narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
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