Saw blades build up huge amounts of kinetic energy during cutting; and when they stop suddenly, the energy must go somewhere, leaving the operator with a potentially fatal injury from a saw blade or a saw that is wrenched from its fittings and is left running freely along the ground.

Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, jammed, or bound up saw blade where the saw thrusts up and backward.

Another violent pressure that leaves the operator with uncontrolled equipment is the pull-in force, which may drag the operator toward the blade.

There are two main ways to reduce saw kickback: prevent the blade from stopping suddenly and reduce your chances of being struck if the saw does stop.

• Make sure you are trained in proper cutting techniques, safety, and how to hold the saw.
• Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment while cutting.
• Keep your blade sharp and clean. Dull or dirty blades tend to bind up in cuts.
• Do not use a saw that is too heavy for you to control.
• Never remove the guard as it is designed to capture and deflect the pieces of a shattered blade. Inspect the guard and make sure that there is no evidence of failure.
• Make a series of straight, shallow cuts. Set the blade at no greater than 1/8″ to 1/4″ more than the thickness of the material to avoid contacting foreign items while cutting.
• Operate the saw at the manufacturer’s recommended speed.
• Make sure your blade is the right size for the saw.
• Take your finger off the trigger or power switch if the blade binds up, the saw stalls, or the power is interrupted.
  

Stay out of the line of fire! Standing directly behind the saw increases your chances of being struck by the blade if the saw kicks back. Maintain your balance and footing at all times.

The United States produced 83.5 million tons of Portland cement in 2017, and imported even more. With concrete increasingly becoming the building material of choice, more employees are exposed to significant hazards.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports:

• Lost workdays in the masonry fields are 2.5 times greater than for other construction activities.
• Concrete workers report four times more lost workdays for skin problems than other construction workers.
  

Skin burns are just one of the common hazards associated with concrete.  Dry cement contains calcium oxide that, when exposed to water, creates calcium hydroxide with a pH of 12-14. Contact with corrosive cement over periods of time make it likely that a burn will happen. Be sure to wear eye protection – full-cover goggles or safety glasses with side shields to protect against blowing dust (the moisture in the eyes will mix with the dust, making it caustic), splattering concrete and other foreign objects.

Once the eyes or the skin areas have been directly exposed to wet concrete, immediate steps should be followed to slow the burning process:

• Remove any contaminated clothing, being careful not to touch unexposed areas. Promptly rinse clothes in clean water.
• Gently brush any dry chemicals off the skin and flush the affected area with clean running water for at least 20 minutes. To help neutralize the alkalinity, add vinegar or a buffer to the water (a fact proven by a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Vinegar and similar weak acids help neutralize the alkaline substance 15 minutes faster than using water alone, the study found.
• If the eyes are involved, rinse eyes with clean water for 20 minutes.
• Seek professional medical attention immediately if the burn is more than 3 inches across, very deep, or covers the hands, feet, face, groin, or a major joint. Delaying treatment can mean the difference between a mild burn and a severe burn.
• Provide the medical personnel with a product Safety Data Sheet, which explains the skin hazards of concrete exposure and first aid procedures.
  

Remove all jewelry, watches, belts, etc., because the wet concrete can become trapped against the skin.

If your clothing becomes saturated, change it. Wet clothing will transmit alkalinity via a “hygroscopic” process, in which the fabric molecules actually become charged and will intensify the skin burn. Workers need to be especially careful when removing gloves, boots, and other work clothes so as not to contaminate other skin areas.

This course will explain OSHA’s role in worker safety and health, jobsite hazard recognition, correction and prevention methods and how to read the OSHA standards. Participants will receive a completion card from the U.S. Department of Labor OSHA certifying successful completion of this OSHA 10-Hour course. 29 CFR 1926 CFR Book & course material furnished.

*A Certificate of Completion will be provided to attendees.

Who Should Attend:

This basic safety course is recommended for workers and supervisors, or those who have been given the task of developing and managing their employer’s safety program.

*If you hire Contractors:
Many cities also require their contractors to maintain a safety program to be eligible to work for them. The OSHA 10-Hour course will help those owners, managers, and employees develop a solid safety foundation at their company to hopefully avoid incidents while working for the city or utility. Hiring a contractor to perform work for the city/utility does not eliminate all liabilities to the city.

Location:

IAMU Training and Office Complex

1735 NE 70^th Avenue

Ankeny, IA  50021

Cost:

$200 per IAMU Member participant

$240 per Non-Member participant

Questions?

Contact Larry Banwart at (800) 810-4268 or lbanwart@iamu.org.

Click HERE for registration and additional information.