FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS
(WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

Regulation.................................. Page

PART 1

PRELIMINARY

1. Citation............................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 2

2. Application...................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 2
3. Interpretation................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 2

PART 11

DUTIES OF PROPRIETORS

4. Stopping and starting devices ......... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 2

5 ..........Clear space ................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3

6. Floors ................................ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3
7. Lighting .............................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3

8. Underground rooms...................... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3

9. Training .............................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3

10...............Fencing of circular saw ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 3

11...........Push-sticks ................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 4

12......................Guarding of swing and pendulum saws ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 4

13.................Guarding of plain band saws ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 4

14.............Planing machines ............. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 4

15......................Vertical spindle moulding machine ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 5

16.................Chain mortising machine ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 5

17...........Maintenance ................. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 5

18....................Exclusion of certain regulations ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 5

PART III

DUTIES OF PERSONS EMPLOYED

19...............Woodworking machine ..... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 6

PART IV

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

20. Offences and penalities ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... G 6





FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS
(WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS

(Cap. 59, section 7)

[1 November 1971.1

PART I

PRELIMINARY

1. These regulations may be cited as the Factories and Industrial
Undertakings (Woodworking Machinery) Regulations.

2. These regulations shall apply to any industrial undertaking in
which any woodworking machine is used.

3. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires--

-circular saw' means a circular saw working in a bench (including a rack
bench) for the purpose of ripping, deep-cutting or crosscutting;
but does not include a swing saw or other saw which is moved
towards the wood;

-plain band saw' means a band saw. other than a log saw or a band re-
sawing machine. the cutting portion of which runs in a vertical
direction;

'planing machine*' includes a machine for overhand planing or for
thicknessing or for both operations;

.,swing saw- or pendulum saw- means a revolving saw mounted in a
frame, column or chassis which is suspended from a pivot above
the table. bench or other support on which the wood is placed and
which is operated by being pulled across the table, bench or other
support on which the wood is placed;

'underground room' means a room any part of which is so situated that
half or more of the whole height thereof measured from the floor to
the ceiling is below the surface of the footway of the adjoining
street or of the ground adjoining or nearest to the room;

,.woodworking machine' means any circular saw, swing saw, pendulum
saw, plain band saw, planing machine, vertical spindle moulding
machine or chain mortising machine that operates on wood.

PART II

DUTIES OF PROPRIETORS

4. A woodworking machine shall be provided with an efficient
stopping and starting appliance, and the control of this





appliance shall be in such a position as to be readily and conveniently
operated by the person in charge of the machine.

5. Sufficient clear and unobstructed space shall be maintained at a
woodworking machine while in motion to enable the work to be carried
on without unnecessary risk.

6. The floor surrounding a woodworking machine shall be
maintained in good and level condition, and, as far as practicable, free
from chips and other loose material, and shall not be allowed to become
slippery.

7. (1) Adequate lighting shall be provided for a woodworking
machine.

(2) Artificial lighting shall be so placed or shaded as to prevent
direct rays of light from impinging on the eyes of the operator while he
is operating such machine.

(3) No illumination will be considered adequate which provides
less than 160 lux of light of working area.

8. No woodworking machine shall be worked in any underground
room which is certified by the Commissioner for Labour to be unsuitable
for the purpose as regards height, construction. light, ventilation or in
any other respect.

9. (1) A person while being trained to work a woodworking machine
shall be fully and carefully instructed as to the dangers arising in
connexion with such machine and the precautions to be observed.

(2) Except with the written permission of the Commissioner for
Labour, no person under 16 years of age shall be employed on any
woodworking machine.

10. (1) The part of a circular saw below the bench table shall be
protected by fencing it with 2 plates of metal or other suitable material,
one on each side of the saw and such plates shall not be more than 150
millimetres apart and shall extend from the axis of the saw outwards to a
distance of not less than 50 millimetres beyond the teeth of the saw.

(2) If metal plates are used for the purpose mentioned in paragraph
(1), the plate shall

(a) if not beaded, be of a thickness not less than 2 millimetres;

(b) if beaded, be of a thickness not less than 1 millimetre.

(3) Behind and in direct line with the circular saw there shall be a
riving knife, which shall

(a) have a smooth surface;

(b) be strong, rigid and easily adjustable;





(c)be so positioned that the edge of the knife nearer the saw shall
form an arc of a circle having a radius not exceeding the radius
of the largest saw used on the bench;

(d)be maintained as close as practicable to the saw, having
regard to the nature of work being done at the time, and. at the
level of the bench table, be so positioned that the distance
between the front edge of the knife and the teeth of the saw
does not exceed 15 millimetres;

(e)for a circular saw of a diameter of less than 600 millimetres,
extend upwards from the bench table to within 25 millimetres of
the top of the saw;

for a circular saw of a diameter of 600 millimetres or more,
extend upwards from the bench table to a height of not less
than 250 millimetres.

(4) The top of a circular saw shall be covered by a strong and
easily adjustable guard, with a flange at the side of the-saw furthest
from the fence; and such guard shall

(a)be kept so adjusted that the flange shall extend below the
roots of the teeth of the saw;

(b)extend from the top of the riving knife to a point as low as
practicable at the cutting edge of the saw.

11. A suitable push-stick shall be kept available for use at the
bench of a circular saw that is fed by hand so as to enable the work to
be carried on without unnecessary risk.

12. (1) A swing saw or pendulum saw shall be guarded as far as
is practicable and shall be so designed and maintained that it
automatically returns to the back position when released at any point of
its travel.

(2) A swing saw or pendulum saw shall be provided with limit
chains or other effective devices to prevent the front edge of the saw
being pulled out in front of the work table; and such chains or devices
shall be maintained in good working order.

13. A plain band saw shall have-

(a)both sides of the bottom pulley completely encased by sheet
metal or other suitable material;

(b)the front of the top pulley covered with sheet metal or other
suitable material;

(c)all portions of the blade enclosed or securely guarded. except
the portion of the blade between the bench table and the top
guide.

14. (1) No planing machine, which is not mechanically fed, shall be
used for overhand planing unless it is fitted with a cylindrical cutter
block.





(2) A planing machine used for overhand planing shall be provided
with a 'bridge' guard capable of covering, the full length and breadth
of the cutting slot in the bench, and shall be so constructed as to be
easily adjusted both in a vertical and horizontal direction.

(3) The feed roller of a planing machine used for thicknessing,
except a machine used both for overhand planing and thicknessing,
shall be provided with an efficient guard.

15.(1) The cutter of a vertical spindle moulding machine shall if
practicable, be provided with the most efficient guard having rig regard
to the nature of the work being performed.

(2) For such work as cannot be performed with an efficient guard
for the cutter, the wood being moulded at a vertical spindle moulding
machine shall if practicable. be held in a Jig or holder of such
construction as to reduce as far as possible the risk of accident to the
person working the machine.

(3) A suitable---spike-or push-stick shall be kept available for use
at the bench of a vertical spindle moulding machine.

16. The chain of a chain mortising machine shall he provided with
a guard that shall enclose the cutters as far as practicable.

17. (1) All tools, blades and cutting instruments of a woodworking
machine and other machines operating on wood shall be

(a) kept free from patent defect;

(b) properly maintained;

(e) kept clean;

(d) properly ground, sharpened and set.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), no saw
that is cracked shall be. used in a circular saw.

(3) The guards and other appliances required under these
regulations shall be

(a) maintained in an efficient state;

(b)constantly kept in position when the machine is in motion,
except when, owing to the nature of the work being done, the
use of the guards or appliances is rendered impracticable;

(c)so adjusted as to enable the work to be carried on without
unnecessary risk.

18. Regulations 10, 13, and 14(2) and (3) shall not apply to a
woodworking machine in respect of which it can be shown that other
safeguards are provided and maintained, which render the machine
equally safe as it would be if guarded in the manner specified in these
regulations.





PART III

DUTIES OF PERSONS EMPLOYED

19. A person employed on a woodworking machine shall-

(a)use and maintain in proper adjustment the guards provided in
accordance with these regulations;

(b)use the 'spikes' or push-sticks and jigs or holders provided
in compliance with regulations 11 and 15(2) and (3),

except when, owing to the nature of the work being done, the use of the
guards or appliances is rendered impracticable.

PART IV

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

20. (1) If regulation 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 is contravened. the
proprietor shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction
to a fine of 530,000.

(2) If regulation 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 11 is contravened, the proprietor
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of
520.000.

(3) Any person employed on a woodworking machine who
contravenes regulation 19 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
liable on conviction to a fine of 510.000.
L.N. 50/71. L.N. 171/74. L.N. 319/81. L.N. 238/84. Citation. Application. Interpretation. L.N. 238/84. L.N. 171/74. Stopping and starting devices. Clear space. Floors. Lighting. L.N. 238/84. Underground rooms. Training. Fencing of circular saw. L.N. 238/84. Push-sticks. Guarding of swing and pendulum saws. Guarding of plain band saws. Planing machines. Vertical spindle moulding machine. Chain mortising machine. Maintenance. Exclusion of certain regulations. Woodworking machine. Offences and penalties. L.N. 319/81.

L.N. 50/71. L.N. 171/74. L.N. 319/81. L.N. 238/84. Citation. Application. Interpretation. L.N. 238/84. L.N. 171/74. Stopping and starting devices. Clear space. Floors. Lighting. L.N. 238/84. Underground rooms. Training. Fencing of circular saw. L.N. 238/84. Push-sticks. Guarding of swing and pendulum saws. Guarding of plain band saws. Planing machines. Vertical spindle moulding machine. Chain mortising machine. Maintenance. Exclusion of certain regulations. Woodworking machine. Offences and penalties. L.N. 319/81.

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