WAC 296-78-70503   Shake and shingle machinery -- General.  (1) Track or swing cutoff circular saw.

     (a) Manually operated track or swing circular cutoff saws of the following types shall be set up, guarded and operated in accordance with chapter 296-806 WAC, Machine safety:

     • Saws into which materials to be cut are fed or positioned and/or held in position by hand pressure during the cutting stroke; and

     • Saws on which the cutting stroke is propelled by manual (hand) pressure; and

     • Saws on which the operator is within arm's reach of the blade when the blade is fully extended to the limit of operating travel and the operator is standing at the operator's normal control station/location.

     (b) Large track or swing circular cutoff saws into which materials to be cut are fed by powered live rolls, conveyor belts and/or chains and which are operated from a remote operator's control station, defined as beyond arm's reach when the blade is fully extended to the limit of operating travel, shall be set up, guarded and operated in accordance with the following:

     (i) A power operated track or swing cutoff circular saw shall have controls so arranged that operators are not positioned directly in front of the saw while making a cut.

     (ii) All track or swing cutoff circular saws shall be completely encased or guarded when the saw is in the retract position, except for that portion of the guard that must be left open for the operation of the saw.

     (iii) Track or swing cutoff circular saw guards shall be constructed of sheet metal not less than one-eighth inch thick, or a wood guard of not less than nominal two inch thick wood material, or equivalent.

     Hinged or removable doors or gates will be permitted where necessary to permit adjusting and oiling.

     (iv) The driving belt(s) on the track or swing cutoff circular saw shall be guarded in accordance with chapter 296-806 WAC, Machine safety.

     (v) A safety catch shall be provided to prevent the track cutoff saw from leaving the track.

     (2) Overhead deck splitter - panagraph.

     (a) Panagraph splitters shall have a shroud incorporated on the upper pressure plate to eliminate the possibility of the splitter moving from the operating area. This shroud shall be constructed of solid design with a minimum width of three inches and a minimum thickness of three-eighths inch.

     (b) Mechanically operated overhead splitters shall have handles moving opposite the stroke of the piston.

     (c) When the leading edge of the panagraph splitter is completely extended, the maximum clearance from the deck to the splitting edge shall be two inches.

     (3) Power splitter saw. Power splitters shall have spreaders behind the saw to prevent materials from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator. The top of the saw shall be completely covered.

     (4) Knee bolter circular saw.

     (a) A safety catch shall be provided to prevent the bolter carriage from leaving the track.

     (b) Bolter saws shall be provided with a canopy guard of sheet metal not less than one-eighth inch thick, or cast iron guard not less than three-sixteenths inch thick or a wood guard of not less than nominal four inch thick wood material or equivalent.

     The bolter canopy guard shall completely enclose the rear portion of the saw. It shall be so arranged and adjusted as to cover the front of the saw; not to exceed twenty inches from the top of the carriage to the bottom of the guard on sixteen inch and eighteen inch block and twenty-six inches on twenty-four inch blocks, of the material being cut.

     (c) Bolter saws shall be provided with wipers of belting or other suitable material. These wipers shall be installed on both sides of the saw in such a manner as to deflect knots, chips, slivers, etc., that are carried by the saw.

     (d) A positive device shall be provided and used to manually lock and hold the feed table in the neutral position when not in use.

     (e) That portion of all bolter saws which is below and behind the saw table shall be guarded by the exhaust hood or other device. Hinged or removable doors or gates will be permitted where necessary to permit adjusting and oiling.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. 04-14-028, § 296-78-70503, filed 6/29/04, effective 1/1/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 96-17-056, § 296-78-70503, filed 8/20/96, effective 10/15/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.050 and 49.17.240. 81-18-029 (Order 81-21), § 296-78-70503, filed 8/27/81.]