CASE STUDY

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CASE STUDY CUTOFF SAW

Cut off saws are often overlooked as a potentially serious source of fires. Often times
steel workers surrounded by oil soaked formply or other combustible debris will use
them for cutting rebar. If these conditions exist, a fire extinguisher should be
immediately available and a fire watch posted at the work site to observe and inspect for
at least thirty minutes after the work is complete.

Cut off saws can pose other dangers. In a recent burn incident, a journeyman carpenter
was in a hurry to finish his job. He re-filled the cut off saw with fuel, but neglected to
replace the fuel filler cap. During the cutting operation, fuel spilled out of the filler hole
onto the hot manifold, immediately igniting a fierce fire. The carpenter suffered severe
burns to his hands, arms and face.