Is the bandsaw safety poster free?

Yes. No form, no email address, and you may print and display it inside or outside your organization. We ask only that you credit Guardian Bandsaw if you publish or link to it.

What size should I print it at?

US Letter or A4 works beside a single machine where the operator is within a couple of paces. A3 or tabloid is better for a wide cutting room, or anywhere the poster needs to be read from across the floor. The type is sized so the four rules stay legible at a distance.

Where should a bandsaw safety poster be displayed?

Directly behind or beside each saw, at eye height for a standing operator, where it is in view from the operating position rather than on a noticeboard by the door.

Does displaying a safety poster meet OSHA requirements?

No. A poster is a reminder, not a control and not training. Guarding, written procedures, operator training and supervision are what the standards require; the poster supports them.

What is the difference between the poster and the checklist?

The poster is four rules for the wall, readable at a distance while the work is happening. The checklist is a sixteen-item pre-start routine the operator runs before the first cut. Most sites use both.

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Bandsaw safety poster

Four clear reminders for trained operators of vertical bandsaws. Review the poster against your site procedure before display.

Put four bandsaw safety reminders where operators can see them: be ready to operate, keep safeguards working, keep hands out of the cutting path, and stop and lock out before clearing jams or cleaning.

This poster is for trained, authorized operators of vertical bandsaws. A supervisor must review it against the machine manual and approved site procedure before display.

Choose a size for the viewing distance

Print at actual size and check readability from the place where operators will look at it. Position the poster close enough to read comfortably.

The four reminders

Be ready to operate. Follow the machine manual, site procedure and task-specific PPE requirements. Only trained and authorized people may operate.
Keep safeguards working. Fit the required guards, set the upper guard for the workpiece and complete the prescribed safety checks. Never bypass a safety device.
Keep hands out of the cutting path. Use the approved push tools, fixtures and supports. Plan the full cut and stop if the workpiece binds or moves unexpectedly.
Stop and lock out before clearing jams or cleaning. Wait for complete standstill. Authorized people must use the approved lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedure before clearing jams, changing blades, cleaning or servicing.

A stop button is not an energy-isolating device. Gloves do not make blade contact safe.

Where to display it

Place it at a safe viewing point near the work area, without covering controls, emergency information or machine labels. Keep it clean, well lit and easy to read. Use a suitable protective sleeve if needed, avoiding glare that hides the text.

Walk through the poster during training and toolbox talks. Ask operators to identify their approved feed aids, stop conditions and the person to contact when something is wrong. A poster cannot demonstrate practical competence.

Common questions

Does it replace an SOP?

No. The poster is a short reminder. The operating sequence, settings, PPE, isolation and emergency arrangements must be defined for the actual machine and task.

Can it be used in meat, metal or woodworking areas?

Only after site review. The broad reminders do not define material-specific controls, glove requirements, sanitation methods, blade settings or legal duties.

What should an operator do if a check fails?

Stop, report the problem and follow the site’s process for preventing unauthorized restart. Do not resume until the issue is resolved and the machine is released for use.

Related resources

The bandsaw safety checklist expands these reminders into 16 points covering the task.

The vertical bandsaw SOP template provides an editable starting point for your site procedure.

Scope and use notice

General guidance for vertical bandsaws. This poster does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions, a task assessment, training, an approved procedure or applicable law. It does not certify safety or compliance. Site management must determine the requirements that apply and approve its use. Nothing in this notice excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Content edition: 18 September 2026. Source document: GB016. The edition date is not a site approval date.