Hand-Held Cut-Off Saws in Construction: Proper Use and Training Needed for Powerful Tools

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Description:
  Construction workers rely on a variety of hand-held power saws to cut through tough materials like tile, brick, stone, concrete, steel, and iron. Among these cut-off saws, also called concrete saws, abrasive saws, and quick-cut saws are among the most powerful and widely used. These high-speed tools make demanding cuts possible, but if not handled properly, they pose serious risks. CPWR's review of OSHA's Fatality Inspection Data revealed numerous fatalities and serious injuries involving cut-off saws, highlighting the severe risks of improper use. These tragedies serve as a stark reminder of the importance of proper training, implementing safe operating procedures, and strict adherence to the manufacturer's instruction manual. Struck-by incidents, including those caused by saws, are the leading cause of non-fatal traumatic injuries and the second leading cause of fatalities among construction workers. Some hand-held cut-off saws pack over 7 horsepower, generating extreme cutting force. One wrong move can result in serious injury or sometimes death. The saw's high-speed rotation creates multiple reactive forces, increasing the risk of sudden kickback, blade pinching, or material ejection. If the tool is used improperly, the saw itself, or the material being cut, can become a deadly projectile. But the dangers don't stop there. For example, cutting silica-containing materials produces respirable crystalline silica dust, a hazardous airborne contaminant. Prolonged exposure can lead to silicosis, an irreversible and potentially fatal lung disease. This Fact Sheet provides essential safety information on proper cut-off saw operations to help prevent struck-by injuries, fatalities, and exposure to hazardous silica dust. With cut-off saws, there's no room for error. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Construction
  • Dust
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Construction workers
  • Hand tools
  • Cutting tools
  • Injury prevention
  • Safety practices
  • Respirable dust
  • Crystalline silica
  • Fatalities
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Philadelphia Region OSHA
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071796
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2025 Apr; :1-6
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  2024/09/01
• End Date:
  2029/08/31
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/260020/cdc_260020_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 362.82 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2f5357a22106ae8421d78f3709a4b3ed50c8a2dac18a174269770e0bc2952104d1987467d4488ff30d4e4abdeb179242f7297520a581ae54b656626aff9c5547