ISO 11148-12:2012 specifies safety requirements for hand-held non-electric power tools (hereinafter "circular, oscillating and reciprocating saws") intended for sawing. The circular, oscillating and reciprocating saws can be powered by compressed air, hydraulic fluid or internal combustion engines and are intended to be used by one operator and supported by the operator's hand or hands, with or without a suspension, e.g. a balancer.

ISO 11148-12:2012 is applicable to circular saws, circular knives, oscillating saws having a saw blade with a radius of 50 mm or less or a diamond cutting-off blade with a radius of 100 mm or less, oscillating knives (including windshield knives) and reciprocating saws, including jig saws and power hack saws.

ISO 11148-12:2012 is not applicable to special requirements and modifications of circular, oscillating and reciprocating saws for the purpose of mounting them in fixtures.

ISO 11148-12:2012 deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations or hazardous events relevant to circular, oscillating and reciprocating saws when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer, with the exception of the use of circular, oscillating and reciprocating saws in potentially explosive atmospheres.