Product Overview

This Panel Saw (Horizontal) Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a comprehensive safety planning document designed to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls for the operation of horizontal and vertical panel saws. It provides detailed, job-ready procedures and risk controls to support WHS compliance and safe use of panel saw machinery across multiple cutting and material-handling tasks.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe operation of horizontal panel saws for cutting sheet materials and panels
• Set-up, calibration, and pre-start inspections of panel saws, including guards, fences, and emergency stops
• Operation of vertical panel saws, including secure positioning and support of large sheets
• Selection and inspection of saw blades appropriate to material type, thickness, and cutting speed
• Safe loading, supporting, and handling of large, heavy, or awkward panels to minimise crush and strain injuries
• Use, adjustment, and maintenance of guarding, riving knives, and dust extraction systems
• Control of dust, noise, and flying particles through engineering controls and PPE
• Lock-out/tag-out procedures for isolation during blade changes, cleaning, and maintenance
• Management of kickback risks, binding, and jamming of material during cutting operations
• Housekeeping controls for offcuts, waste, and keeping work areas, floors, and access paths clear
• Ergonomic positioning, correct body stance, and use of mechanical aids to reduce manual handling risks
• Emergency response procedures for entanglement, lacerations, eye injuries, and other panel saw incidents
• Training, competency, and supervision requirements for authorised panel saw operators

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for cabinet makers, joiners, shopfitters, carpenters, furniture manufacturers, timber and board processing facilities, and site supervisors overseeing panel saw operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks associated with machinery such as panel saws.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Requirements and controls for noise generated by saw operations.
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Risk management for lifting, carrying, and positioning large panels.
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant where elevated platforms or steps are used to access or feed panel saws.
• AS/NZS 4024 (Safety of machinery) – relevant parts: Principles for the safe design and guarding of machinery, including saws.
• AS/NZS 1269 (Occupational noise management) – relevant parts: Guidance on noise assessment and hearing protection for machinery operations.
• AS/NZS 1715 & AS/NZS 1716 – Selection, use, and performance of respiratory protective devices: Applicable where dust and airborne particles are generated by cutting operations.
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017