Concrete is one of the most diverse materials used in the
construction industry today. This means that you probably have concrete
features within and around your home. Cutting through concrete allows you to
add doorways, create windows, or expedite the removal of concrete slabs that no
longer serve a useful purpose.
Before you rent a concrete saw and attempt to cut through
concrete yourself, you should understand the dangers associated with concrete
cutting. It's best to leave your concrete cutting tasks in the hands of
experienced professionals so that you can avoid any potential injuries or
errors that could compromise the quality of each cut.
1. Kickback and Locking-In
Concrete saws are powerful tools that can be deadly if they
are not used properly. Two of the safety problems that you may encounter when
using a concrete saw are kickback and locking-in. Kickback occurs when the saw
pulls back toward the user. This is usually the result of the upper portion of
the saw blade becoming obstructed.
Saw blades need to be rotating at maximum speeds before
being inserted into concrete in order to prevent kickback. Trained concrete
cutters understand the relationship between rotation speed and kickback,
allowing them to protect themselves against injury when kickback occurs.
Locking-in is another safety hazard associated with cutting
concrete. The concrete slab or wall being cut can shift during the cutting
process. This shifting pinches the blade of the concrete saw, locking it into
place. It takes a lot of skill to dislodge the saw blade without damaging the
concrete or the blade or injuring oneself.
Professional concrete cutters can operate a concrete saw
safely to avoid kickback and when locking-in occurs.
2. Silica Dust
Cutting concrete can be risky business. The abrasive diamond
blades used in concrete saws can create a lot of dust during the cutting
process. Silica dust can pose a serious threat to your health. Inhaling silica
dust particles can cause a condition known as lung fibrosis.
Silica dust is so dangerous that there is a permissible
exposure limit that governs the volume of dust an individual can be exposed to
during each shift. Professional concrete cutting companies have access to
engineering controls that can limit exposure to silica dust.
Some of these engineering controls include industrial
vacuums and respirators that anyone working with a concrete saw must wear. You
may not have access to these controls, which can make cutting concrete without
relying on a professional detrimental to your health.
3. Blade Selection
Not all concrete is created equal. Each concrete slab is
made from a mixture of concrete with its own unique ratio of ingredients and
consistency. This means that the right saw blade is needed in order to
effectively cut through any concrete surface.
The average consumer doesn't have enough knowledge of
concrete compressive strength and aggregate size to choose the most effective
blade. Concrete cutting professionals have access to multiple blades so that
they can select the size and configuration that meets their current needs.
The thickness of the blade and the blade's segment width can
have a direct impact on the precision and cleanliness of the cut, and
professionals are capable of selecting the saw blade that will produce the most
accurate cuts possible for your project.
Cutting through concrete is harder than it appears. Many
variables play a role in determining the quality of each cut, and failing to
account for any of these variables could result in injury or inferior cuts.
Professional contractors have the knowledge, training, and
experience needed to cut through all concrete with ease. Contact Capitol City
Concrete Cutters to handle any concrete cutting you may need in the future.
