Woodworker's Safety Week 2009

Hi Everyone.

I would like to contribute something myself for this years woodworker's safety week.

I find myself using mostly hand tools when preparing lumber, joinery or finishing wood to its sheen surface. Hand tools are not without their own dangers, usually happening when your not paying attention. Playing chicken with your hand and chisel or not prepared to how your hand saw reacts when starting a cut. These happen in a instant and for the most part can be avoided. Keeping your tools really sharp help with attentiveness and control.

When starting out and introduced to woodworking machines either through educational classes or working along side a knowledgeable craftsman, your in a experienced atmosphere where you can gain first hand understanding of the uses and dangers of each machine before ever having to use them. In the beginning you will always have a sort of hesitation but its the confidence and forethought to achieve quality and safe results.

It is this understanding which is important when approaching any high Rpm machine. Some people may not have a experienced to introduce these machines. If that is the case it's a good idea to read the Manual, Magazine article's, Blogs, ask local craftsman questions and approach anything and everything with respect.

Another form of injury that can happen in a woodworker's shop doesn't happen in a instant but over the course of time. This is either bad habits straining certain muscles, ligaments or continuously putting yourself in endangerment. On bad habit I see very often is people using the palm of their hand as a pseudo hammer, this is a Horrible idea! your hands are allowing you to woodwork and your bashing hard points against sensitive muscles and tendons, Stop it now.

A very apparent danger in the shop is dust control. Its important to have good air flow in your work space in conjunction with shop-vacuum on machines and and air filter near your work station. A dust mask should be close by and if the woods have higher levels of toxicity your skin should be protected and extra measures if washing your clothing with your family's.
If your working in smaller spaces with your wood collection near by its a good practice to clean out deep pockets of dust since they have been known to ignite the oils in the dust if heated anyway.

I feel I have only touched on a little of what I am in constant reminder of. If any of this information helps anyone or people agree to what I am saying then this awareness week has been of great worth.

Rich