Bench & Portable Saws walks operators through 13 interactions on the cuts that cause kickback and blade contact — guard and riving-knife position, push-stick use, and hand placement — validating 5 competencies in safe saw technique under production conditions.
A tool-specific deep dive for workers who use circular saws, table saws, mitre/chop saws and reciprocating saws — carpenters, framers, and finishing trades. Aligned with the Manitoba WSH Act and WSH Regulation MR 217/2006 (tools and machinery / guarding), ANSI/UL saw standards, and OSHA 1926.304 / 1910.213.
Equip circular-saw, table-saw, mitre-saw and reciprocating-saw users to run these tools safely — understand and prevent kickback (riving knife, anti-kickback pawls, correct rip technique, supporting the work, no free-handing), keep the guards working and…
At a glance
Format: Online, self-paced and interactive
Length: about 1 hour 15 minutes, 6 modules
Pass mark: 80% on the final test
Certificate: QR-verified, valid for one year
Jurisdiction: Manitoba law and standards
Who this course is for
Carpenters, tradespeople, and shop workers who operate table, mitre, circular, and other bench or portable saws.
Carpenters, framers and finishing trades who use circular saws and table saws
Workers who use mitre/chop saws and reciprocating saws on residential and construction sites
Anyone who rips, cross-cuts, or trims material with a bench or portable saw
Lead hands who set up saw stations and choose blades for a crew
What you will learn
Explain what causes kickback (binding, pinch, blade lift, no riving knife) and prevent it with the riving knife/splitter, anti-kickback pawls, correct rip technique, and supporting the offcut
Keep the upper and self-closing lower guards working on a circular saw and never wedge the lower guard open
Use a push stick/push block on a table saw and keep hands out of the line of the blade; never reach over a running blade
Select the right blade for the material, sharp and undamaged, mounted the correct way round, and unplug to change a blade
Control a portable saw: two-hand control, let the blade stop before setting it down, and support the material so it cannot pinch
Course outline
The Blade Is Faster Than Your Hand — Why bench and portable saws carry hazards ordinary tools do not, what kickback is and why it is the signature hazard, and what this course…
Kickback — What Causes It and How to Prevent It — What causes kickback (binding, pinch, blade lift, no riving knife) and the controls that prevent it: the riving knife/splitter…
Guards and the Riving Knife — The upper blade guard and the self-closing lower guard on a circular saw (never wedged open), and the riving knife — how they contain the…
Push Sticks, Hands Out of the Line & the Right Blade — Using a push stick/push block, keeping hands out of the line of the blade, never reaching over a running blade, and selecting and mounting…
Control, Stopping the Blade & Supporting the Work — Controlling a portable saw — cord management and two-hand control, letting the blade stop before setting the saw down, unplugging to change…
PPE, Reporting, the Program & Your Site — PPE and no loose clothing/gloves near a spinning blade, reporting defects, the saw program, and the site-specific layer — plus the…
Laws and standards covered
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210)
Manitoba WSH Regulation MR 217/2006
ANSI / UL saw safety standards
OSHA 1926.304 (woodworking tools) and 1910.213 (woodworking machinery
Certificate and renewal
Passing the final test issues a QR-verified certificate, valid for one year.
This certificate records completion of knowledge training in the safe use of bench and portable saws. It does not authorize the holder to set up or operate any particular saw. The saw and blade manufacturers' instructions and the markings on the tool always govern, and the employer must provide the hands-on setup training the work requires and confirm the worker is competent on the saws in use.
Common questions
How long does Bench & Portable Saws take?
About 1 hour 15 minutes online, over 6 modules, at your own pace. It ends with a final test that needs 80% to pass.
How long is the Bench & Portable Saws certificate valid?
One year from the day you pass. Review training at least annually and whenever the saws, blades, or tasks change.
Which laws and standards does Bench & Portable Saws cover?
Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210); Manitoba WSH Regulation MR 217/2006; ANSI / UL saw safety standards; and 2 more listed on this page.
Is the online certificate enough on its own?
This certificate records completion of knowledge training in the safe use of bench and portable saws. It does not authorize the holder to set up or operate any particular saw. The saw and blade manufacturers' instructions and the markings on the tool always govern, and the employer must provide the hands-on setup training the work requires and confirm the worker is competent on the saws in use.
Is this course part of a training program?
Yes. It is included in Machine & Tool Safety Program.