Protecting Your Health with Handheld Power Saws

Your Safety Matters

When working with handheld power saws, it's crucial to safeguard your health. These tools, also known as cut-off saws or quick cuts, are often used to cut materials like masonry, concrete, stone, or other silica-containing substances. However, they can generate harmful respirable crystalline silica dust. This dust can lead to irreversible lung damage when inhaled over time. Your safety is of utmost importance, and understanding exposure controls is vital.

Step 1: Employing Engineering Controls

To minimize silica dust exposure when using handheld power saws, you must follow these engineering control options provided in the Managing respirable crystalline silica in construction and manufacturing of construction elements code of practice 2022:

Wet Cutting with Continuous Water Feed

Wet cutting is an effective method to reduce dust. It involves using an integrated water delivery system that continuously wets the blade and material being cut. The following steps should be taken:

Operate the saw following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ensure hoses are intact and connected securely.
Adjust nozzles to direct water effectively.
Regularly inspect the saw blade for excessive wear.
Keep dust-control equipment maintained as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Clean up wet slurry promptly before it dries and releases silica dust into the air.

Dust Collection Systems

A dust collection system can effectively capture dust generated during cutting. It can be either integrated into the saw or a separate commercial system. Follow these guidelines:

Choose a system rated M-Class or H-Class.
Ensure the airflow meets or exceeds the manufacturer's requirements.

Note: Ventilation or exhaust may be necessary when cutting indoors or in enclosed areas to further reduce dust exposure.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)

The choice of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) depends on various factors, including the type of engineering controls, task duration, and the work environment. Here are your requirements:

For wet cutting outdoors (4 hours or less): RPE is not required.
For all other situations: P1 or P2 filtered RPE with a Minimum Protection Factor (MPF) of 10 is necessary.

Fit-testing is crucial for tightly fitting RPE, ensuring that it's the right make and model for each worker. Refer to section 7.6 of the Code for detailed fit-testing and RPE usage requirements.

Health Monitoring

If your work requires wearing RPE 30 times or more in 12 months, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must provide health monitoring. For comprehensive information on health monitoring requirements, consult section 10 of the Code.

Compensation and Your Rights

In case of a workplace accident or injury, you have the right to claim compensation to support your recovery. Compensation may cover lost wages, medical expenses, chest screening, rehabilitation, and more. Additional compensation through the common law claims process might also be possible if your employer was at fault. Watch the video provided for detailed information on respiratory diseases and compensation claims.

Seeking Further Information

Your health is a top priority. For more detailed guidance and resources regarding work-related respiratory conditions and compensation claims, refer to:

Your safety matters, and understanding your rights and protections is essential.