Woodworking Safety

Text & Photos by Gregory Paolini

	We woodworkers are cursed in a way:  We have a passion  to create using tools, equipment, and supplies that can hurt, or even kill us - Sort of bitter sweet, isn't it?
	It's not all doom and gloom though.  I've been making furniture pieces since the mid-eighties, and I still have all my fingers.  If you're equipped with a few common sense safety rules, and a bit of knowledge, you can enjoy a lifetime of safe woodworking.
	Read this...
	Almost every tool I buy comes with some kind of literature, and most of it is filled with safety precautions.  I urge you to read, understand, and follow the guides that come with your tools.  They not only are there to keep you safe, but sometimes you learn a thing or two about the tool you may have never known otherwise.
	I have a small trim router I love, other than the fact that it's difficult to remove the motor from the base.    It was the eighth or ninth router I bought, so of course "I don't need to read the instructions".    After using it for about a year, I was sorting through paperwork in my shop, and dropped the manual for the little trim router on the floor.  It fell open to the page with a picture, and the following caption "Depress knob to remove motor from base" .  Now I read the manuals, no matter what.
	Watch it!
	You've got one set of eyes.  I should leave it at that, but I've witnessed many "professional" woodworkers at the table saw, or shaper with nothing protecting their eyes.  Without being too gruesome, if a piece of carbide comes loose from a router bit, it could launch at speeds in excess of 100mph, and it will not stop when it hits your eye.
	I can't be a hypocrite - I don't wear my safety glasses every second I'm in the shop.  But you can be sure I have them on when I'm at the table saw, shaper, working with a router, or even doing some hand carving, where chips can fly.
	Did you hear that?
	Tinnitus is a chronic ringing in the ears, caused by exposure to sound at dangerous levels.  It's not fun!  It keeps you awake at night;  it keeps you from hearing your favorite TV show; and it generally makes life a whole lot less fun!
	Protect your ears.  Wear ear plugs or ear muffs when working with machines.  I have a pair of safety ear muffs that allow me to plug my ipod in, and listen to my favorite tunes all day.
some hearing protectors allow you to plug in your favorite mp3 player	At the very least, throw on a set of ear muffs when you're using a planer, or a router - That ringing in your ears may even start to subside.
	Breath in, breath out.
	A few years ago, a government report listed wood dust as a know carcinogen - Some debate the report, but one thing's for sure: It's not healthy to breath in a bunch of dust.
	For basic woodworking, I recommend a minimum of  an N95 rated particulate mask.  It will keep out most of the dust from sanding and fine machine work.  I wear mine when I'm at the router table or sanding work with a random orbit sander.  It also comes in handy when I'm emptying my dust collector
	For the ultimate in dust protection, consider an organic vapor respirator.  They are designed for protection when spraying paint and solvents.  The charcoal canisters in them wear out fast, but they continue to filter out dust long after.  If you do any type of spray finishing, a mask like this is a necessity.  You can find them at automotive stores that sell professional paint supplies for around $30.
	Watch your hands!
	It goes without saying that you need to keep an eye on your hands when you're around machines.  A slip with a blade or bit spinning can lead to a very bad day if you're lucky; or missing body parts if you're not so lucky.  If I'm not totally focused on what I'm doing, I don't do it.  Don't even turn a machine on unless you are 100%.  And don't even think about walking into the shop if you've had any kind of alcohol or drug.
A pair of work gloves will keep you splinter free	You can also protect your hands with a pair of work gloves.  I don't wear them often, but if I have to plane rough lumber, or load/unload my truck, or lumber rack, I throw on a pair.  They may not stop a catastrophic injury, but they will prevent the annoying splinter that I'll curse for the next week!
	It makes sense to me.
	The biggest safety rule I can pass along is to listen to your gut.  If something doesn't feel comfortable, don't do it.   Turn off the machine, step back, and find a better or safer way.
	If  it's a common task you're not comfortable with, enroll in a class to build your skills and experience.  Case in point,  I actually owned my first router for over a year before I actually used it - The thought of a bit spinning at 25,000 rpms made me uneasy.  Today I own a dozen routers, and I push them to their limits, because today I'm comfortable with them, but more importantly: I know how to use them safely.
	Now let's make sawdust!

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