Bandsaw safety checklist
What is on the checklist
Four sections, in the order the work actually happens. Run it before the first cut of every shift: one saw, one operator, one minute.
Before you start: operator and area
- I am trained and authorized to operate this saw.
- Eye and hearing protection on.
- Cut-resistant gloves and apron where your site requires them, snug fit only.
- No loose clothing, jewellery or drawstrings; long hair tied back.
- Work area clear, floor clean and dry, lighting good.
Machine checks, saw off
- Blade guard in place, upper guide set close to the workpiece.
- Blade condition checked: no cracks or missing teeth, correct tension and tracking.
- Right blade for the material, with at least three teeth in the cut at all times.
- Emergency stop tested and within reach.
- Push stick, feed jig or fixture at hand for small or awkward pieces.
While cutting
- Hands stay out of the danger zone, never in line with the blade.
- Feed with steady, moderate pressure and let the blade do the work.
- Stop the blade before backing out of a cut or clearing offcuts.
- Never leave the saw running unattended.
Jams, blade changes and cleaning
- Blade fully stopped and lockout applied before clearing a jam, cleaning or changing the blade.
- Faults, near-misses and dull blades reported to your supervisor.
A boxed notice at the foot of the sheet carries the two rules that matter most for new starters: untrained operators must not use the machine, and if any check fails the saw does not run. Tag it out and tell your supervisor.
How sites use it
Most sites print it at A4 or US Letter and mount it at eye height beside each saw. It works as a pre-start prompt for operators, a talking point for toolbox talks, and evidence of a documented pre-use routine when an auditor asks.
It pairs with the ten bandsaw safety rules, which explain the reasoning behind each line, and with the saw room safety poster for the wall.
Formats, and what it costs
Nothing. The checklist is ungated — no email address, no signup, no form. Download it, print it, put it at the machine.
Licence. Free to use, print and share, including outside your organization. If you publish or link to it, please credit Guardian Bandsaw (guardianbandsaw.com). Please don't resell it or remove the attribution.
What this checklist is based on
The checks come from the standards that govern bandsaw guarding and servicing — OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212 (general machine guarding), 1910.213(i) (woodworking bandsaws) and 1910.147 (control of hazardous energy) — and from Guardian's own analysis of 919 severe bandsaw injuries in OSHA's severe injury reports for 2015 to 2025. The injury data is what sets the order: the checks that appear first are the ones that address the failures that actually recur.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, industry and machine. Read it against the standards that apply to you, and against your machine's manual, before you issue it.
Last reviewed: 7 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bandsaw safety checklist really free?
Yes. There is no form and no email address required, and you may use it inside or outside your organization. We ask only that you credit Guardian Bandsaw if you publish or link to it.
How often should the checklist be used?
Before the first cut of every shift, per saw and per operator. It is written to take about a minute. Sites that run multiple shifts usually repeat it at each handover.
Can we adapt it for our site?
Print and share it as it is, with attribution. If you need to change the wording, add site-specific steps or put it into your own management system, build your own version from it and take it through your own approval process — a document that carries your procedures should carry your sign-off, not ours.
Does using this checklist make us OSHA compliant?
No. It is built from the requirements, and it is useful evidence of a documented pre-use routine, but compliance depends on your machines, your training, your written procedures and the standards that apply to you. Treat it as a prompt, not a certificate.
What is the difference between the checklist and the poster?
The checklist is a pre-start routine for the operator, sixteen items to run before cutting. The poster is four rules set large enough to read across the room, for the wall behind the saw. Most sites use both.
Disclaimer. Guardian provides this document free of charge as general information for trained industrial operators and those who supervise them. It is not training, and it is not legal, engineering, or safety-compliance advice. It does not replace, and must not be used in place of: competent operator training and supervision; the machine manufacturer's operating manual and safety instructions; your organization's own risk assessment, safe working procedures, and site rules; or the safety legislation and standards that apply in your jurisdiction. No document can prevent an accident. Guardian makes no warranty that using this document will achieve compliance with any standard or prevent injury, and accepts no liability for loss, injury, or damage arising from its use. Confirm the content is appropriate to your machine, material, and operation before use. Last reviewed: 7 September 2026.