Man killed by circular saw

I heard about an accident a few years ago where a guy was sitting down using a circular saw in his garage and managed to go through both of his legs.

His wife was in another room and had thought that he'd been using a hose pipe (due to the sound), not realising it was actually his arteries. He bled to death quite quickly.

a prime candidate for a Darwin award.

Colin Bignell

Yes. I don't think that would comply with health and safety legislation.

Christian.

My thoughts entirely.

Dave

Anyone who does anything requiring the use of both arms while standing on a ladder is pushing their luck in my opinion.

"nightjar .uk.com>"

It worrying that some circular saws can lock the switch on, so if you have to drop it because of a graceful fall off the ladder, it doesn't stop the motor itself.

rusty

So whats the difference between using a circular saw and a drill whilst standing on a ladder? I have been on jobs where I have had no alternative but to use a circular saw.

Well, both should not be done. However, there is more potential for problems with the circular saw. A good drill will have a rotor brake that stops it dead when dropped. Even spinning it is likely to cause fewer injuries than an out of control circular saw. However, there is potential for both tools to snag, throwing you off the ladder to your death or serious injury.

But you probably had an alternative to the ladder. According to HSE, a ladder is not a "work platform". However, there are alternatives that are.

Christian.

"Rusty"

For some time, circular saws have been required to have switches that do not

A blade guard is paramount on cirular saws, and I would never buy one without this.

Are you sure that is true? Mine has a lock on and it isn't that old.

I regard it as safer, as it gives you an extra hand which gives you extra control, which is a considerable safety benefit.

Christian.

Right, that must be why I got my nice Black and Decker at half price from a shed.

You'll never stop the blade spinning immediately, even if the power does go off.

It's technically possible to stop the blade almost immediately with a brake. But the momentum of the spinning blade has to go somewhere and for a handheld saw that would simply jerk it out of your hands.

I don't believe Ben's statement "I have been on jobs where I have had no alternative but to use a circular saw ". Using a circular saw because that's all you brought with you is not a safe condition, or a valid condition to claim "no alternative". Even if you wanted to use a powered saw, a reciprocating saw (jigsaw or sabre saw) is much safer than a hand-held circular and all its reaction forces.

I work on timber-framing projects with untrained apprentices running around. No-one goes up onto a frame with a circular saw, nor do they ever need to.

Also one wonders why the blade guard did not self close?

Alex.

You sound as if your building the things? but have you ever had the opportunity to actully work on large beams in situ? i.e house renovation.

Not a lot, except that it's generally possible to do light drilling jobs with only one hand holding the drill.

Then you need to find an alternative to the ladder!

Which are they? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

That was the question that sprang to my mind... either it was a dodgy saw, or he was just very unlucky to catch the angle of fall in such a way as to operate the guard correctly.

IIUC he was on a small step ladder rather than a leant ladder as such... still a dangerous proposition though.

It also gives no details of the size of saw... a small cordless 4" saw that can be used single handed is somewhat different from trying to use a full size 7" or even 10" saw in that circumstance.

The circular saw is a potentially more dangerous tool and it needs two hands to use it.

In that case, you should not be on a ladder. It is not a stable or safe working platform. There are step ladders that are designed with a work platform at the top, although H&S inspectors are not really happy with those either. The right solution is scaffolding with proper safety rails, a cherry picker, one of the work platforms designed for use with a fork lift truck or similar.

Colin Bignell