Rank: New forum user 
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Dear EHS Colleagues,
I am a CMIOSH safety representative who works in a manufacturing factory. In order to shape the edge of a manufacture product (over 50 metres long), we are using at the moment portable circular saws. In an effort to improve and make the process safer, we are thinking of using portable band saws (such as the one depicted here: http://www.primapowertools.com/products/Makita-2107F-Portable-Band-Saw.html) which are more efficient and much safer.
Even though the saw is light enough (below 10 kgs), having to go along he edge of the item for such a long distance makes it quite painful for the operative. Unfortunately, the shape of the final product changes along its lenght, making it impossible to put a rails system or something similar. I then thought of using a special harness (similar to those used by gardeners having to use heavy trimmers for long time) and haven´t found anything suitable for the type of tool that I am intending to use . The harness for the trimmers are based on the trimmer needing to be used quite low and, due to gravity, having its weight resting on the shoulders of the user. In our case, the band saw will have to be lifted and lowered along the distance, so this system based on gravity will be no effective.
Taking all this into account, I was wondering if some of you have had something similar along your professional careers that could share with me or if you know of any harness manufacturer that offers the option of bespoke products.
Many thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Have a nice and safe day.
Alfie
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Rank: Super forum user 
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50 m length - what about width and thickness? My immediate thought would be to change the direction of cut from vertical to horizontal and utilise a panel saw frame arrangement (think B&Q or similar where they cut products to customer size) Have you considered tool balancer support cables running along a roof track?
e.g. https://www.grainger.com/category/tool-balancers/fastening-tools-and-accessories/power-tools/ecatalog/N-p0f http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/category/tool-spring-balancers-451.html
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Rank: Super forum user
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50 m length - what about width and thickness? My immediate thought would be to change the direction of cut from vertical to horizontal and utilise a panel saw frame arrangement (think B&Q or similar where they cut products to customer size) Have you considered tool balancer support cables running along a roof track?
e.g. https://www.grainger.com/category/tool-balancers/fastening-tools-and-accessories/power-tools/ecatalog/N-p0f http://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/category/tool-spring-balancers-451.html
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi Roundtuit,
The vertical trimming is not an option (it has to be done indoors and the roof clearance is not big enough). The width and thickness changes and has not any simetry to make the task easy (flat in some areas, round in others, very thin, then thick again, different height..., quite an awkward shape).
The tool balancer is something I already thought of, but we cannot attach it to the ceiling (we have cranes on top), so we would need some sort of mobile gantry to move with the operative, which might be difficult to fit within our building, that´s why I was thinking of a belt to release the weight (or spread it even) carried by the operative.
Thanks again for your reply!!
Alfie
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Rank: Super forum user
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A manufactured product over 50m long? I'm guessing it's not a single piece so why not cut the shape before assembly?
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi Brian, I am afraid it´s a single piece. Sorry for not giving more details about it but, as with many companies, we are bound by a confidentiality agreement. The final product needs to be glued together and is the residue the part that we need to cut out, hence the need for a suitable way of cutting it. Thanks anyway for your comment! Best regards, Alfie
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sounds like it could be a windturbine blade manufacturing facility. Carbon fibre is the possible material.
Can the process be modified or a different application technique used. Is it excess bonding agent oozing out of the mold/between parts of the finished product?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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You already have a solution, you have overhead gantry cranes. ;)
If this is a signifiant part of your work, you could iinstall a free running "mini" gantry over the area of concern, and atteh the device to this.
I would strongly recommend running the blade in the vertical plane, and, look into on tool LEV.
This could run with the tool from the overhead gantry.
Remember engineering controls are higher up the hierarchy than PPE!
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Rank: New forum user
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Dear Paul and Ian,
Thanks for your comments and input. The use of the overhead gantry cranes is a posibility, but this could be a problem because they need to be used for other tasks and might prove real difficult. The LEV is already in the plan with the portable band saw, but the tool would still need to be used by an operative due to the irregular surface of the item to be shaped/trimmed. Once again, thank you all for your input and support. Best regards, Alfie
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Rank: Forum user
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We had a situation some years ago, where operators where using battery operated hydrualic bolt cutters, which were quite heavy. We used a tool suspension device suspended from a wheeled drip stand, upside down 'L' on wheels (4 or 5 wheeled base) so the guy would just move along, and the unit would follow
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I might be being a bit thick, but I can't see how you could run a portable bandsaw over any appreciable distance without the body of the saw fouling the workpiece. Would a reciprocating saw (with suitable blade and running speed) not be a better option?
Even better, what about a small hand-held nibbler?
I'd consider a portable bandsaw better for cut-off operations, not profiling.
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