Unlike a scalpel or a sharp knife, a circular saw blade is comprised of carbide-tipped teeth designed to remove material. It doesn't just "cut" flesh; it evulsates it. It removes a wide path of skin, muscle, and bone, leaving a ragged, macerated wound that is extremely difficult for surgeons to stitch back together.
Always support the wood so that the waste piece falls away from the cut, opening the kerf rather than closing it.
Ensure your saw has a riving knife (a metal splitter behind the blade) to keep the wood from pinching.
Never stand directly behind the path of the saw. Stand to the side so if it kicks back, it clears your body.
A circular saw is one of the most common tools in any shop, but it is also one of the most unforgiving. Kickback happens when the blade suddenly binds or pinches in the wood, causing the saw to be violently propelled backward toward the operator. It occurs in less than —faster than human reaction time. The Mechanics of the Accident
If the saw kicks back into the thigh (a common injury site for those supporting wood on their knee), it can easily sever the femoral artery. In this scenario, a person can lose a fatal amount of blood in under three minutes. The Most Common Triggers
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Keep both hands on the tool’s handles to maintain maximum control.