Specific Finishing Equipment » Boring/Mortising Machines

Boring and mortising machines use boring bits or mortising chains to cut cavities in pieces of stock. These cavities are often used in mortise and tenon joints. This shows a chain mortising machine.

Chain mortising machine with labeled parts such as dust hood, back fence, stock clamp, foot treadle, elevation crank, and mortising chain
Fig 1 - Chain mortising machine

Potential Hazard

Possible Solutions

Engineering Controls

  • Use safety bit chucks with no projecting screws [1910.213(l)(1)].

  • Enclose boring bits with a guard that encloses the bit and chuck above the material being worked [1910.213(l)(2)].

  • Enclose the top of the cutting chain and driving mechanism [1910.213(l)(3)].

  • Cover operating treadles with inverted U-shaped guard to prevent accidental tripping [1910.213(l)(6)].

Potential Hazard

  • Rotating parts - Clothing or hair may be caught on rotating boring bit or mortising chain.

Possible Solutions

Engineering Controls

  • Enclose the top of the cutting chain and driving mechanism [1910.213(l)(3)].

Potential Hazard

  • In-running nip points - Clothing, hair, or hands may be caught by and pulled into in-running rolls of automatic feed.

  • Flying chips - Wood chips and splinters may be thrown by the cutting action.

  • Kickbacks - Stock may be thrown back at operator.

Possible Solutions

Engineering Controls

  • If a counterweight is used, prevent it from dropping by bolting it to the bar or attaching a safety chain to it [1910.213(l)(4)].
  • Cover operating treadles with inverted U-shaped guard to prevent accidental tripping [1910.213(l)(6)].