The Shark Guard and OSHA

If you run a commercial shop, please read below.

Current Lead Time:

The lead time for a new order is around 6 to 8 weeks. Because of this, there is no need to use Paypal to get on the waiting list. Just send an email with the model and options you would like. We could settle up just before your order ships. Feel free to ask about the status of your order or the availability of your particular model at any time via email.

What's New:

We are still developing the overhead mounting systems. There have been several minotr changes during the R&D of these to make them better. Each change adds a bit more time, but we should have something to show in the next couple weeks. If you want to get on the interested list for information about these when it becomes available, just send an email.

Thank you for your interest.

Product Disclaimer

All of the items that you get from us are guaranteed to be of good quality, made from the best material available. If you aren't pleased with the condition of what we send you, you get your money back upon return. As with any aftermarket accessory,

YOU

must decide if these are the right additions or modifications for your comfort and safety. There is no way to use your table saw and be RISK FREE. The items that we make are merely safety aids. They will NOT PREVENT injury. They are a deterant to it.

Saws are very dangerous machines. Saws can KILL or MAIM you.

These accessories may not comply with rules and regulations in your area. You must decide for yourself whether to use these accessories or not. It is your safety that is at risk when using any power tool or accessory. Since we cannot be there for each and every setup and cut that you make, we cannot be held responsible for any accidents that occur as a direct result of any information or equipment that you receive from us or this website. You should familiarize yourself with saws and safety techniques in order to use it sucessfully.

Any responsibility for the use of this product(s) ultimately rests on your own shoulders.

Ordering anything from us is an acknowledgement that you understand these risks and responsibilties and that you are willing to accept the consequences of using them. If you are un-certain as to WHO is RESPONSIBLE for the setup and usage of any of these accessories,

DO NOT PURCHASE THEM.

Is the Shark Guard OSHA compliant?

The rules and regulations as written by OSHA leave at least a little to interpretation, but to answer the question. Yes, the Shark Guard can be OSHA compliant.

Now you would have to purchase the three main parts of the system to comply if you are a business. If you are a hobbiest and work in your own shop alone, then you aren't goverened by OSHA mandates. The three main parts of the system are the blade cover, the anti-kickback pawls and the splitter or riving knife.

A business owner would have to have the pawls included in the package to comply with OSHA whereas a hobbiest has a choice to include or omit them. It's a personal choice for the hobbiest. I think they are redundant and more a danger on saws equipped with riving knives, but OSHA is just now getting it's feet wet with riving knifed machines. Perhaps they will ammend thier decriptions regarding the inclusion of pawls. They can be very beneficial on saws with splitters though and that is the reason they exist. They can be an aid to your safety in this case.

Here is a link to the OSHA site as well as the pertinent texts below and you can make your own decision or interpretation as to the compliance of the Shark Guard with OSHA.

From the OSHA Site

1910.213(c)(1)

Each circular hand-fed ripsaw shall be guarded by a hood which shall completely enclose that portion of the saw above the table and that portion of the saw above the material being cut. The hood and mounting shall be arranged so that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut but it shall not offer any considerable resistance to insertion of material to saw or to passage of the material being sawed. The hood shall be made of adequate strength to resist blows and strains incidental to reasonable operation, adjusting, and handling, and shall be so designed as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth. It shall be made of material that is soft enough so that it will be unlikely to cause tooth breakage. The hood shall be so mounted as to insure that its operation will be positive, reliable, and in true alignment with the saw; and the mounting shall be adequate in strength to resist any reasonable side thrust or other force tending to throw it out of line.

1910.213(c)(2)

Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be furnished with a spreader to prevent material from squeezing the saw or being thrown back on the operator. The spreader shall be made of hard tempered steel, or its equivalent, and shall be thinner than the saw kerf. It shall be of sufficient width to provide adequate stiffness or rigidity to resist any reasonable side thrust or blow tending to bend or throw it out of position. The spreader shall be attached so that it will remain in true alignment with the saw even when either the saw or table is tilted. The provision of a spreader in connection with grooving, dadoing, or rabbeting is not required. On the completion of such operations, the spreader shall be immediately replaced.

1910.213(c)(3)

Each hand-fed circular ripsaw shall be provided with nonkickback fingers or dogs so located as to oppose the thrust or tendency of the saw to pick up the material or to throw it back toward the operator. They shall be designed to provide adequate holding power for all the thicknesses of materials being cut.

1910.213(d)

Hand-fed crosscut table saws.

1910.213(d)(1)

Each circular crosscut table saw shall be guarded by a hood which shall meet all the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section for hoods for circular ripsaws.

1910.213(e)

Circular resaws.

1910.213(e)(1)

Each circular resaw shall be guarded by a hood or shield of metal above the saw. This hood or shield shall be so designed as to guard against danger from flying splinters or broken saw teeth.

1910.213(e)(2)

Each circular resaw (other than self-feed saws with a roller or wheel at back of the saw) shall be provided with a spreader fastened securely behind the saw. The spreader shall be slightly thinner than the saw kerf and slightly thicker than the saw disk.