(SAF) Safety Overview

Amperage (Amps/Rated Amperage) – A measure of the flow of electric current. Rated amperage is useful in choosing the correct extension cord gauge and length.

Clamp – A restraining device used to hold a workpiece in place.

Ear Protection – Devices such as ear muffs or ear plugs that reduce the intensity of the noise entering your ear. Official ear protection will carry a NIOSH Noise Reduction Rating, or “NRR”, which indicates how much the noise level you experience is reduced (in decibels), when the device is properly used.

EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s function to protect American’s and the US environment from significant risk.

Eye Protection – Goggles or spectacles intended to protect your eyes. Eye protection should meet the requirements of ANSI Z87.1

GMP - Good Manufacturing Process for food safety. Covers all products or processes in contact with public food in the areas of quality, safety, and hygiene.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) – A safety device designed to sense electrical leakage to ground and quickly shut off the circuit to prevent electric shock.

Grounded Outlets (Receptacles) – An electrical outlet in a typical 120V application is equipped with two vertical slots and a third rounded hole (the “ground”). Use of an adapter with a grounded outlet eliminates the grounding protection.

Guard – Protective device that forms a barrier between a hazardous object such as blade, wheel or a cutter and the operator.

Instruction Manual (Manual, Owner's/Operator's Manual, Use & Care Guide) – The booklet accompanying your power tool that describes the hazards and safe operating procedures, outlines basic tool operations, care, and maintenance.

ISO- International Organization for Standardization, the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards.

Kickback – Sudden and unintended movement of the tool or workpiece. It is typically caused by binding or pinching of the workpiece.

Listed – As in “UL Listed” means the product has been tested for conformance to the applicable national standards. Listed products can be identified by a “mark” on the tool’s rating plate (e.g., a "UL", "ETL", or "CSA" mark or symbol).

OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the US Department of Labor, with goal to prevent workplace injuries and deaths, and the associated financial hardship for workers, families, employers.

Overreaching – Extending your body with a tool or a workpiece in hand such that a loss of balance is likely. For example: reaching over the blade or cutter area; or reaching from a scaffolding to drive a screw.

Polarized Plug – Type of plug which has one prong larger than the other so it can only be inserted into an outlet in one way.

PPE – Personal Protective Equipment

Push-block/Push Stick – A suitably shaped and designed hand-held device used to push the workpiece into and past cutting edges on stationary power tools.

Respiratory Protection – A device placed on your face used to filter the air you breathe.

SOP - Standard Operating Procedures

Torque – A twisting action tending to cause rotation typically measured in foot-pounds or inch-pounds.

UL - Underwriters Laboratories works with manufactures to certify, validate, test, and inspect products to ensure safety for consumers and the environment.

Voltage – The electric potential difference measured between two conductors such as the “hot” and “neutral” for AC power supply or the potential difference between the + and the – poles of the DC supply.

Wattage (W) – a measure of power, that is the amount of work done in a given time.

Definitions and terms used by permission from Power Tool Institute Links to an external site..