Bandsaw Incident Prompts Machine Guarding Safety Reminders
A seafood processing worker suffered a severe hand injury after contacting an improperly adjusted bandsaw blade, highlighting the need for proper guarding.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jun 22, 2026
A seafood processing worker with more than eight years of experience suffered a fractured and severely lacerated left index finger while using a stationary vertical bandsaw to cut frozen salmon into filets. The incident required multiple surgeries to repair a damaged tendon and kept the left-dominant worker from returning to full duty for eight months.
According to a safety report, the worker set the blade guard at five inches, which was higher than necessary for the size of the fish being cut. While pushing the salmon into the blade by hand, the fish slipped from his waterproof glove. As the worker reached for the fish, his hand made contact with the running bandsaw blade.
An investigation identified the blade guard height and feeding the bandsaw by hand as the primary contributing factors to the incident. The guard was set above the point of operation, exposing more of the blade than necessary. Additionally, the worker pushed the frozen fish manually instead of using a push plate or a dedicated tool designed to protect hands from the blade. Cut-resistant gloves were not used, as they are not recommended due to snagging hazards on moving bandsaws.
Safety experts recommend that employers train workers to follow manufacturers' guidelines and ensure blade guards are always set to the minimum height needed for cutting. Employers should also provide push plates to direct product into the blade and ensure workers keep their hands entirely out of the line of flight.
Under specific machine safety regulations, employers are required to enclose or guard all portions of a bandsaw blade except for the working portion between the guide rolls and the table. The guard must adjust so that the gap between the guide rolls and the stock is as small as practical.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.