Woodworking Safety
1. Plan cutting ahead – Planning ahead can help you keep your fingers and reduce scrap wood.
2. Keep a Clean Shop – scrap wood, tools, and liquide on the floor are tripping hazards waiting to happen.
3. Avoid Distractions – working with electronic tools require your full attention. Avoid TV, other people and other distractions from happening.
4. Don’t Rush – be calm! Don’t try to force things as it can get you near a rotating saw. When things get stacked, take the night off. In the morning you might get a solution to the problem. Frustrations can make you make hasty moves.
5. Don’t Force It – If your saw is resisting the cut, stop and see what’s wrong. A misaligned rip fence or improperly seated throat plate can sometimes cause a board to get stuck in mid cut. Forcing the board in these situations may cause kickback or contact with the blade. Take a moment to evaluate the situation and determine the problem.
6. Protect Yourself – Wearing the proper shop protection is an important part of safe tool operation. Goggles, Ear Protection, and Lung Protection should be used when operating tools. Use push sticks when working close to the blade and make sure the tool’s safety features are in place.
7. Let the Tool Stop – Giving the power tool time to wind down after a cut is an often-overlooked safety mistake. Even without power, the spinning blade can still contain high energy and do a lot of damage.
8. Fumes and Dust – Solvent fumes and airborne dust can present health and explosion hazards. Care should be taken to ensure a supply of fresh air and use only explosion proof vent fans.
9. Wear Appropriate Clothing – Loose clothing or hair can get caught in power tools and cause severe injury.