How safe are you?

[ralph blanco]

Hi everyone,

Woodworking involves the use of a variety of hand and power tools. It's a very important part of the whole woodworking industry because it makes everything a lot easier.

But the convenience comes with a certain price, and that is safety.

If you get a bit clumsy you can easily cut a finger off.

So the question is, how do keep yourself safe from injuries and accidents in the workshop?

[Leo Graywacz]

Use the most important tool in the shop.

Your brain.

[Bruce Page]

I plan each step, beginning to end, when there's a threat of injury. Working as a machinist for 30+ years I kept all ten digits and my eyesight using that philosophy.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Absolute rule #1 for me. No beer/alcohol in the shop. Tired? Stop. Rushing? Slow down. I also have a Sawstop. But that's a backup for using the brain and safety equipment all the time.

[Damon Stathatos]

...how do keep yourself safe from injuries and accidents in the workshop?

Absolute respect for the machine and physics involved.

[Mel Fulks]

When someone does get hurt try to figure out why it happened ,then instruct everyone as to a method to avoid a repeat.I cut a finger on a bandsaw once while cutting up some rippings. While being taken to the hospital I commented that I couldn't under stand how I could have gotten cut without completely severing the finger. That is just routine with a bandsaw cut. Took a day off still trying to figure it out. Came back and needed the bandsaw for the same task. Said to myself "this is how you got cut ,BE CAREFUL" . Working slowly and deliberately.....OW! I'm cut again! But because I was going slowly I noticed how I got both cuts. The blade was tracking wrong and had eaten through the other side! Both times I was cut not while sawing ,but by throwing away the pieces at a barrel very close to the saw. Order a helper to repair it (the saw) .Then onto the hospital...NOTE: It's probably better to figure these things out without reenacting them.

[Michael W. Clark]

Try not to touch anything sharp, especially if its spinning.:D
Seriously, I think it is a combination of understanding what "could" go wrong and taking actions to minimze those risks. Jigs to keep your hands away and from slipping, trying to stand out of the way should there be a kickback, etc. Hand tools can hurt you too. A sharp chisel that slips into a finger will leave a nasty wound as well.

[David Kumm]

I never walk away until the machine has stopped completely. If it takes too long I put a brake on it. Some days I just don't feel very patient so I go take a nap. And although i used to work late into the night, as I've aged I never turn on a dangerous machine after about 10 pm. Sometimes it also is about luck. Dave

[Rick Fisher]

Great topic ..

I am super safe with the Bandsaw, Jointer etc. . Lots of respect .. Having said that, I cut myself with a chisel twice last week .. Not nasty, just left one lying out on the bench and bumped it with a finger ... and later my other finger .. sigh ..

I seem to respect the tools that do real serious damage .. I am cautious when actually using a chisel .. but lazy in other regards..

Worst injury I have sustained is a knuckle hitting the edge sander belt.. It was actually quite nasty ..

[Jim Neeley]

Make a significant mistake or a close call on an injury and have a safety stand-down for the day. Go in and think through what happened and how to avoid it and be safer / better. Sometimes it's just from working too long.

Don't press myself to get "to a stopping point" on a project. It's often rushing or being tired in the last few minutes where things seem to happen.

[Larry Edgerton]

If something does not feel right, find another way.

Larry

[John Coloccia]

I plan each step, beginning to end, when there's a threat of injury. Working as a machinist for 30+ years I kept all ten digits and my eyesight using that philosophy.

Exactly what I do. I have never let myself get comfortable around power tools...not in the wood shop or the machine shop. I'm confident around them, and I'm not afraid of them, but I'm always on my toes and I'm always planning out my steps and thinking them through.

[James Pallas]

The most dangerous tool in the shop is the one you are about to use. Read all of the instructions for a new tool even if you are familiar with the type of tool. What a surprise and expense you would have if you put a piece of damp wood in your brand new SawStop, the one you bought to replace your unisaw that you had for 20 years. Be your own safety expert first and a tool user second.
Jim
PS No I didn't do it, but I bet it has happened more then once already.

[Brian Tymchak]

Exactly what I do. I have never let myself get comfortable around power tools...not in the wood shop or the machine shop. I'm confident around them, and I'm not afraid of them, but I'm always on my toes and I'm always planning out my steps and thinking them through.

+2. I rehearse every cut on the tablesaw, band saw, miter saw. And I double-check where all my fingers are at before I make any cut with any machine.

[Carl Beckett]

About the time I start talking about how safe I am, is about the time I get hurt.

Grew up on a farm. Was a lab tech building space engines for a while. Was a machinist for a while. I had a grandfather that was missing the larger part of a thumb. Have a brother that pulled a dovetail saw right through his thumb tendons. Have a clicky thumb myself after ER surgery due to a table saw kickback (I 'thought' I was being careful - but it bit me anyway). Have another friend that pushed his hand right through a bandsaw (it all just happened 'too fast'). Yet another friend did his hand through a bandsaw cutting up chickens (I guess in those days, he had time goals to getting a certain quota sliced up for KFC). Another relative cut the tip of his finger off in a radial arm saw. Last year a friend shoved a chisel through his hand working on of all things, a pinewood derby car (still has a pretty decent scar/lump on his hand). I cut my left index pretty deep with a utility knife slip last year - still bearing the impact of that one. The surgeon that put the pins in my thumb stated that he used to do woodworking but after practicing surgery for a short time he sold it all - had seen too much.

I try to have respect for the equipment. Patience is huge. Safety guards. But by no means are there any guarantees, other than perhaps the surgeons approach of just getting out of it all together.

[glenn bradley]

Sometimes it also is about luck.

"Luck favors the prepared"

The basics of safety are covered in almost any complete set of information you read about the tools we all use. Follow them religiously. Make safety an integral part of your woodworking. Have a proper first aid kit that you can operate one-handed (covered in many posts here) in a proper location (not in a cabinet, high on a shelf or high on the wall) as a backup for accidents. Have a phone that you can reach (again mounted low with a speed dial button for 911) to summon help if you work alone.

[Bill White]

One detail I find overlooked quite often is that of a clean work environment.
I clean my shop at the end of each day. Slips, trips, and falls can hurt ya just as badly. It is the way I was tought, and the habit stays with me.
Bill

[J.R. Rutter]

I use a well adjusted and maintained guard on every tool that has one, and make sure that everyone else who uses my tools does as well. If you have kids, just imagine them using the machine and what you would tell them to be careful of, then set it up so that it would be very, very difficult for them to get hurt. I have a commercial shop and years ago, I proactively invited the local OSHA inspector in to have a look. Safety glasses for certain operations, and consistent use of hearing protection were his two biggest recommendations.

[Jim Rimmer]

I am the safety manager for a large company that services control valves. A lot of the good comments in this post are echoed in the safety training we do and by the companies we do work for . It is referred to as Job Safety Analysis or Hazard Safety Analysis (JSA or HSA).

1. Evaluate the job step by step
2. Identify the hazards
3. Eliminate the potential hazards
4. If the hazard can't be eliminated, mitigate the hazard through work processes or safety equipment

[ray hampton]

"Luck favors the prepared"

The basics of safety are covered in almost any complete set of information you read about the tools we all use. Follow them religiously. Make safety an integral part of your woodworking. Have a proper first aid kit that you can operate one-handed (covered in many posts here) in a proper location (not in a cabinet, high on a shelf or high on the wall) as a backup for accidents. Have a phone that you can reach (again mounted low with a speed dial button for 911) to summon help if you work alone.

a speaker phone with a mic that you do not need to hold to your ear are good , a pencil or dowel rod to push the phone buttons without getting blood all over everything

[Chris Tsutsui]

This seems like a good thread.

Read and follow the instructions for all of your machines. Instructions can often tell you the smallest piece you can safely cut on that machine, etc. If you havn't read the instruction in a year or are trying to remember what was in the instructions then just reread them. Use tools for their intended purpose.

Write down all "near miss" safety concerns and address them. These can be as simple as extension cord trip hazards, or a floor that's not kept clean.

Wear all your certified protective gear when using machines. Eye, Ears, face shield, no loose clothing, dust collection, etc.

Never work when upset, sleep deprived, or on drugs.

[jim gossage]

A lot of good advice here. For any power cutting tool, i plan the cut in such a way that my hands are as ar away from the cutter as possible, or there is protection between my hand and the cutter like a grrripper. When working wih small pieces at the router table, i hold the piece wih a large wood screw if possible.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Lots of good comments here, starting with using the brain.

The safest thing i did recently was going to Colorado (Alpine Technical Workshop) to have Joe Calhoon - a GREAT guy - educate me about how to use my new shaper. I had heard all the stories about the shaper being the most versitile machine in the shop, but also the most dangerous . . . . so i decided the trip to Colo and the class would be alot less expensive than any emergency room visit, and i was pretty sure i would return home with all 10 digits intact. In short, education.

Best to all, Patrick


p.s., the downside is that once i realized what good tooling could accomplish, i had to have some. . . . okay, a lot.

[Rod Sheridan]

I use a well adjusted and maintained guard on every tool that has one, and make sure that everyone else who uses my tools does as well. If you have kids, just imagine them using the machine and what you would tell them to be careful of, then set it up so that it would be very, very difficult for them to get hurt. I have a commercial shop and years ago, I proactively invited the local OSHA inspector in to have a look. Safety glasses for certain operations, and consistent use of hearing protection were his two biggest recommendations.

+1.

Good post JR..

It's amazing how many people forget that a guard is always required.............Rod.

[Sam Murdoch]

If something does not feel right, find another way.

Larry


This is the one piece of advice that seems to get downgraded but I completely agree with Larry (to paraphrase) -

If your little voice tells you something - don't ignore it. This could be anything from - this seems risky - to something more specific as - put a clamp on it - or check the depth of the blade (track saw). Even when it seems like a nuisance or that it will add too much time - ignore your little voice at your peril!

[Michael W. Clark]

I would also add that it is not just the "new" techniques or "risky" endeavors that can get you hurt. Certainly these are to be concerend about, but you are usually very focused on what you are doing because it is new or you are a little skeptical. However, complacency on repetitive operations can be quite dangerous as well. Always keep your mind on task. It is very easy to start daydreaming when doing repetative operations with power tools especially stationary ones. If I start loosing focus, I take a short break then start again after I have renewed my focus.

Mike

[phil harold]

I dont text on the lathe or answer the phone while equipment is running
Keep your mind on the task

242071

[Keith Weber]

The blade was tracking wrong and had eaten through the other side! Both times I was cut not while sawing ,but by throwing away the pieces at a barrel very close to the saw.

Sorry Mel, but for the life of me I can't understand your post. The blade had eaten through the other side of WHAT? And how did that relate to you being cut by throwing pieces at a barrel?

Keith

[Mel Fulks]

The sheet metal guarding the blade on the structure side (opposite to cutting side) had been sawn by the saw not tracking correctly.Most likely it had been lightly brushing it for quite some time. Saw was fairly close to the moulder which probably masked the noise from the defect. The scrap barrel stayed right in front of the structure side. Because I was just cutting up accumulated rippings I was working quickly from blade side to barrel side and my hand brushed the pierced guard while putting the scrap into the barrel. Cuts were no more than a quarter inch deep,I personally spoke to insurance rep to make sure they understood what had happened since it was an unusual type of occurance .As I said, I had no idea how I had gotten cut,until it happened the second time, but had wondered how I could have gotten a bandsaw injury without losing a finger. That's why I was working so slowly and deliberately when I returned to work,and did it again.

[Keith Weber]

OK, that makes a little more sense. Thanks!

Keith

[Rich Riddle]

I don't work with power tools after 8 pm even if it's only a few more cuts, etc. before completing a project. Usually the next day, I'm grateful for waiting since there are almost always minor adjustments needed not seen the day before. I use safety glasses and hearing protection. Most would consider my work areas extremely clean and that aids with safety.