Am I correct that a circular saw, fitted in the resistant materials room where pupils are taught, can only be operated outside of lesson time and not in the same room as the pupils?
A. In answering this question re the use of a circular saw in a resistant materials room, there is no definitive guidance in the Code of Practice, BS4163: 2007 Health and safety for design and technology in schools and similar establishments. We would advise that the decision as to whether it is appropriate to use the circular saw in the presence of pupils in a school should be made as an integral part of the risk assessment on the safe use of that specific machine. It might indeed be practical to use the machine in some locations, where for example there is plenty of room or where for example there are barriers around the machine which creates what is considered to be a safe working environment. However, BS4163:2007 does note that there should be sufficient space around the saw bench so that timber can be handled safely, that a risk assessment should be carried out to evaluate the likely risks to health from inhalation of wood dust, that circular sawing machines can produce noise leve
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