Operating Masonry Saws

July 16, 2021

Key Point

Masonry saws are essential tools on many hardscaping jobs. They quickly and precisely cut brick, stone and concrete but also pose an array of safety and health hazards when not operated correctly.
Thousands of American workers require medical treatment each year for injuries associated with power saws. According to the Masonry Contractors Association of America, most of these injuries occur because the saw operator is not adequately trained or the saw blade is insufficiently protected. Possible injuries and illnesses include cuts, lacerations, amputations, electric shock, hearing loss, eye damage, carbon monoxide poisoning and silicosis.
Using proper work procedures and well-maintained equipment with necessary safetycomponents and wearing appropriate protective gear will greatly reduce safety and health hazards related to masonry saws.

Employers’ and supervisors’ checklist

Follow all applicable federal OSHA regulations, as well as state and local laws for protecting workers. Federal OSHA rules include 29 CFR 1926.302 (using power tools and saws), 29 CFR 1910.212(a) and 29 CFR 1926.702(i) (machine guarding), 29 CFR 1926.21(training), 29 CFR 1910.1200 (hazard communication), 29 CFR 1926.95-102 (personal protective equipment), 29 CFR 1926.400 (electrical safety),29 CFR 1910.95 (noise exposure) and 29 CFR 1910.134 (respiratory protection).
Provide workers with, and ensure they wear necessary personal protective equipment. For employees using masonry saws, this could include a face shield/safety goggles, gloves, steel-toed boots, chain-saw chaps, hearing protection and respiratory protection. They also should wear long sleeves and thick pants or jeans. Make sure they don’t wear loose-fitting clothing or jewelry.
Know that federal OSHA — and perhaps your state and local governments — regulates silica exposure and requires you to take specific steps to protect workers. Respirable crystalline silica, found in soil, sand and most rocks, can cause lung cancer and silicosis, a nonreversible disease that can be disabling and fatal. This disease is caused by shards of silica dust that become trapped in the lungs and create scar tissue, decreasing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. Landscape workers can be exposed to crystalline silica when they cut brick, stone, or concrete with masonry saws.
Use one of two main methods to control silica dust while operating masonry saws: wet cutting and vacuum dust collection systems.
Know that according to federal OSHA, wet cutting is the best way to reduce airborne silica dust. Many stationary saws come with a water source attached and a pump for recycling the water. Water can be supplied to handheld saws by a pressurized container or a constant water source such as a hose connected to a faucet.
Know that vacuum dust collection systems (VDCSs) are an good alternative when wet-cutting methods cannot be used. VDCSs should include a dust-collection device (hood), vacuum, hose and filter(s). Provide a hood that is the right size for the saw, a vacuum withenough suction to capture dust at the cutting point, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in the vacuum exhaust, and a 1½-inch to 2-inch diameter vacuum exhaust hose or a hose the size recommended by the tool manufacturer.
Provide workers with respiratory protection when VDCSs or wet cutting do not reduce silica exposures to OSHA’s permissible exposure limits. You will need to put in place a written respiratory protection program per OSHA’s respiratory protection standard. It must include how to select a respirator; fit testing; directions on proper use, maintenance, cleaning and disinfecting; worker medical evaluations; and training.
For more information on protecting workers from crystalline silica exposure, see OSHA’s fact sheets on controlling exposure while operating stationary masonry saws and handheld masonry saws.
Use sealable electrical connectors for electric saws and equipment operated in areas where water is used to control dust. Provide and use double-insulated electric saws.
Ensure employees know any electrical outlets they use must accommodate three-prong, grounded plugs and must be on an electrical circuit protected by a ground-fault-circuit interrupter (GFCI). If this circuit protection is not available at a client’s site, you can purchase outdoor GFCIs at hardware and home-improvement stores.
Train workers to use the particular masonry saws they will be operating. Employees should be able to recognize hazards associated with different tools and know the necessary safety precautions to take. Make manufacturer’s operating instructions available to employees.
Be sure saws are maintained and stored properly.
Keep saw blades sharpened and in good condition to prevent them from throwing debris.
Ensure workers do not use gas-powered saws in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.
Make sure saws are fitted with manufacturer-approved guards and safety switches and that you follow applicable rules for machine guarding. According to federal OSHA, masonry saws must be guarded with a semicircular enclosure over the blade, and a method for retaining blade fragments must be incorporated in the design of the semicircular enclosure.

Employee dos and don’ts
Do:

Know what PPE your company requires for operating masonry saws and wear it.
Inspect masonry saws for damage or excessive wear before using them. Notify a supervisor and remove from service any saw with frayed cords, missing guards or ground prongs, cracked casings or other problems.
Ensure blades are sharp, clean, and oiled. Inspect them for cracks before use and bring any damaged blades to a supervisor’s attention.
Keep people not involved with the work at a safe distance.
Be aware of your surroundings and the position of the power tool in relation to your body.
Operate saws according to manufacturers and your employer’s guidelines and training.
Keep cords away from cutting surfaces.
Unplug/disconnect saws when you aren’t using them, before servicing them and when changing blades.
Ensure work areas are well-lit and the floor or ground is as clean and dry as possible to prevent slips or trips with or around masonry saws.
Make sure cords from electric saws don’t present tripping hazards.
Maintain good footing and balance. Sturdy work boots can help with this.
Use only heavy-duty, outdoor-rated three-prong extension cords that have not been modified and are approved for use by the saw manufacturer.
Make sure the saw blade is not touching anything before you turn on a saw.
Hold handheld masonry saws with both hands.
Turn off a saw before carrying it anywhere.
Ensure gas-powered saws have no fuel leaks and the fuel cap is tight. A spark from a saw can ignite any leaking fuel.
Turn off fuel-powered saws and let them cool down before refueling.
After you turn off a handheld saw, hold it away from your body until the blade stops turning.
Know that anytime brick, stone or concrete is cut, crystalline silica dust could be in the air and follow your employer’s instructions for reducing your exposure.
When wet cutting, check that hoses are securely connected and are not cracked or broken,adjust nozzles so water goes to the cutting area but still cools the blade, rinse or replace water filters often and replace basin water when it becomes gritty or silty with dust.
When using vacuum dust collection systems, keep the vacuum hose clear and free of debris, kinks and tight bends; turn the vacuum off and on regularly to reduce dust buildup on the filter if it is not self-cleaning; and change vacuum-collection bags as needed.
Follow your employer’s instructions for wearing a respiratory, if needed.
Vacuum dust from your clothes before leaving the job site and change into clean clothes, if possible.

Don’t:

Operate a masonry saw until you have been properly trained.
Use a damaged or improperly operating saw. Examine the saw before use and report problems to a supervisor.
Remove blade guards or other safety devices. Immediately report any missing or broken safety devices to your supervisor.
Wear jewelry or loose clothes. Tie back long hair and remove dangling jacket strings and anything else that could become entangled in the saw.
Use worn electric cords or cables.
Put hands or other body parts close to the cutting point.
Use a masonry saw on a scaffold.
Use your leg to prop up a saw.
Cut masonry or stone unless you are using water or a vacuum system to control dust.
Operate gas-powered saws in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.
Modify cords or use them incorrectly. Never remove ground prongs from cord-connectedsaws or extension cords.
Remove cords from receptacles by pulling the cords. Grasp the plug instead.
Work bent over or in other awkward positions. You can avoid ergonomics-related injuries like sprains and strains by putting your work on a solid surface at waist height.

Neither NALP nor its employees/contractors make any representation or warranties, express or implied, regarding the use of or reliance on the information provided herewith, regardless of its format or means of transmission. Readers assume sole responsibility for compliance with safety requirements. NALP is not responsible for and expressly disclaims all liability or damages of any kind arising out of the use, reference to or reliance on any information contained within this publication.