Events Calendar
Shop Safety
Saturday 08 July 2006, 08:00am - 09:30am
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This week's class was on shop safety. We all need to pay careful attention to safety in our shops and in most cases we have room to improve. Jim Myrick and Gerald Jones provided a lot of great information and tips on how to lessen accident probabilities as well as how to deal with shop emergencies.
Two online resources they provided are:
www.InTheWoodshop.org - first aid kit contents
www.enviroSafetyProducts.com - many safety related products
There were way too many excellent points presented for me to summarize adequately here. The quick overview list includes:
First aid kit - make sure you have one that is adequately stocked
Chair - in case you need to sit down in case of an injury
Mirror - in case you need one to deal with injuries, especially eye injuries
Proper clothing - avoid loose clothing, eliminate jewelry - even rings
Phone - make sure you can call for help, a home phone is best due to E911 features
Eye protection - always use safety glasses and/or polycarbonate face shields
Hearing protection should be considered around most woodworking equipment
Gloves - use gloves appropriate for toxic materials, finishes and solvents
Ventilation - deal with airborne dust to reduce breathing health hazards
Fire extinguisher - have at least an ABC extinguisher on hand
Emergency light - so you can safely exit the shop should you lose power
Keep work area clean and floor clear - reduce the tripping hazards
Turn off tools when not in immediate use
Unplug tools before adjusting tools and/or changing blades
Keep tools sharp - a dull tool requires more force sometimes causing accidents
Keep the workshop safe for children - turn off power to the shop when possible
Provide safety equipment for anyone working in or visiting the shop when possible
Avoid distractions - music, talk radio, TV and knocks on the door can be hazardous
In addition to these general tips, Jim and Gerry also covered specific safety concerns for table saws, radial arm saws, scroll saws, power miter saws, lathes, jointers and planers.
This was a very informative class. There were some graphic photos of workshop accident cases that were gruesome motivations for all of us to better prepare for safety in the woodshop. Thanks Jim and Gerry for this excellent class. Their presentation is available (without the gruesome pictures) in PowerPoint format (6,680 KB) and PDF format (700 KB). Thanks also to Ken Vickery and Bob Brokaw for the pictures.
Paul Proffitt - President
Two online resources they provided are:
www.InTheWoodshop.org - first aid kit contents
www.enviroSafetyProducts.com - many safety related products
There were way too many excellent points presented for me to summarize adequately here. The quick overview list includes:
First aid kit - make sure you have one that is adequately stocked
Chair - in case you need to sit down in case of an injury
Mirror - in case you need one to deal with injuries, especially eye injuries
Proper clothing - avoid loose clothing, eliminate jewelry - even rings
Phone - make sure you can call for help, a home phone is best due to E911 features
Eye protection - always use safety glasses and/or polycarbonate face shields
Hearing protection should be considered around most woodworking equipment
Gloves - use gloves appropriate for toxic materials, finishes and solvents
Ventilation - deal with airborne dust to reduce breathing health hazards
Fire extinguisher - have at least an ABC extinguisher on hand
Emergency light - so you can safely exit the shop should you lose power
Keep work area clean and floor clear - reduce the tripping hazards
Turn off tools when not in immediate use
Unplug tools before adjusting tools and/or changing blades
Keep tools sharp - a dull tool requires more force sometimes causing accidents
Keep the workshop safe for children - turn off power to the shop when possible
Provide safety equipment for anyone working in or visiting the shop when possible
Avoid distractions - music, talk radio, TV and knocks on the door can be hazardous
In addition to these general tips, Jim and Gerry also covered specific safety concerns for table saws, radial arm saws, scroll saws, power miter saws, lathes, jointers and planers.
This was a very informative class. There were some graphic photos of workshop accident cases that were gruesome motivations for all of us to better prepare for safety in the woodshop. Thanks Jim and Gerry for this excellent class. Their presentation is available (without the gruesome pictures) in PowerPoint format (6,680 KB) and PDF format (700 KB). Thanks also to Ken Vickery and Bob Brokaw for the pictures.
Paul Proffitt - President
Location Stone Mountain Power Tool Corporation / Kentec, Lilburn, GA