Kick back on a table saw is caused by the material being cut coming in contact with the back of the blade. This can happen if the workpiece is not held firmly against the rip fence, or if it gets caught between the blade and fence as it’s pushed through. It can also occur when a board has knots or other imperfections that cause it to bind against the blade as it passes through, causing sudden force and jerking motion that kicks back at you. To avoid kickbacks on your table saw, always make sure your work-pieces are properly secured to your rip fence before cutting them, and be mindful of any defects in your material that could potentially cause binding while passing through.