A tenon is the end of timber shaped to fit in a mortise and make a joint.
While this guidance has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe.
Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.
A traditional tenoner is a floor-mounted machine tool, with pairs of cutting heads to shape the tenon. The workpiece is securely clamped to a chassis on rails, and pushed by hand to carry the wood through the cutters.
Although guards leave cutters and the saw blade partially exposed, the operator’s hands are firmly on the chassis on rails, avoiding contact with moving parts.
A more modern type of tenoner has a single cutting head that is programmed to follow a particular path to shape the tenon.
Figure 1: Tenoner
![[image] Tenoner with labels and red arrows pointing to guarding and supporting components](/assets/Topic/Machinery/Saws-and-shears/manufacturing-tenoners-figure-1.png)
Figure 2: How tenon fits with mortise
![[image] Matching components of mortise and tenon](/assets/Topic/Machinery/Saws-and-shears/manufacturing-tenoners-figure-2.png)
Hazards
- Entrapment from contact with clamp
- Contact with blade
- Moving/turning timber
- Noise
- Dust
- Slips, trips and falls
- Contact with exposed blades and moving parts (during maintenance, cleaning & repairs)
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Ear protection
- Eye protection
- Dust protection
Tasks
Task – Secure the workpiece
Hazard
Entrapment from contact with clamp
Harm
- Trapped hand
- Crush injuries
- Bruising
- Fractures
Controls
- ENSURE timber is securely clamped.
Task – Push timber through cutters
Hazard
Contact with blade
Harm
- Deep cuts or amputation
Controls
- SECURE guards over cutters and saw blade.
Hazard
Contact, impact or entrapment from moving/turning timber
Harm
- Trapped hand
- Bruising
- Fractures
Controls
- USE the handles provided to control the timber.
Timber may turn or move during contact with cutters or saw blade. A modern machine should have self- adjusting guards that lift as timber approaches the cutters and saw blade.
Other (non-mechanical) hazards
Hazard
Noise
Harm
- Hearing damage or loss
Controls
- REDUCE noise levels by isolating machines or enclosing within noise barriers.
- ASSESS noise levels.
- ARRANGE hearing screenings.
- ALWAYS WEAR hearing protection.
A safe noise level over an eight hour day is 85db. A tenoner may exceed this noise intensity.
Hazard
Dust
Harm
- Eye irritation or damage
- Breathing problems, lung damage or cancer
- Worsening of existing health problems
Controls
- USE dust extraction equipment to minimise dust getting in the operator’s breathing zone.
- ALWAYS USE respiratory protection.
- ALWAYS WEAR eye protection.
Hazard
Harm
- Trapping
- Cuts
- Bruising
Controls
- KEEP up-to-date housekeeping procedures
- KEEP the area around tenoners clear of slip and trip hazards.
Task – Maintenance, cleaning & repairs
Hazard
Contact with exposed blades
Harm
- Deep cuts or amputation
Controls
- LOCK-OUT all power supplies before maintenance, cleaning and repairs.
- KEEP written safety procedures, and arrange regular inspections by a competent person.
- REMOVE or LOCK-OUT machines that fail inspection, and DO NOT USE until repaired or replaced.
Hazard
Contact or impact from moving parts
Harm
- Bruising
- Fractures
Controls
- LOCK-OUT all power supplies before maintenance, cleaning and repairs.
- KEEP written safety procedures, and arrange regular inspections by a competent person.
- REMOVE or LOCK-OUT machines that fail inspection, and DO NOT USE until repaired or replaced.
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