| As a hobby or past-time, woodworking has many | | | | with something that really throws chunks of wood |
| inherent dangers and that is why workshop | | | | around and you need to protect your entire face |
| safety tops the list. | | | | from getting slapped around with wood chips. |
| Just about everything you work with is stronger | | | | Ear Protection: |
| than your skin and bones including the wood itself. | | | | Earplugs are easy to find and inexpensive for |
| With that in mind, think about the fact that the | | | | workshop safety, but getting them to fit properly |
| tools that you use to work with the wood are | | | | can be a bit problematic. If they don't completely |
| designed to cut, rip, and otherwise tear this wood. | | | | block your ear canal, then they aren't effectively |
| This is not said to scare you away from | | | | doing their job so make sure you have them |
| woodworking, rather it is just make sure that you | | | | tightly fitted. |
| have complete respect for the tools you use and | | | | Ear Covers or earmuffs are devices that cover |
| the safety in your workshop. | | | | the entire ear and look very similar to |
| Most workshop safety issues really aren't from | | | | headphones. Ear covers will reduce the damaging |
| an accident with a power tool, rather they are | | | | noise better that the plugs, but since they fit |
| little things that accumulate over time that involve | | | | tightly over your ears they can be somewhat |
| your eyes, your hearing, and your breathing. | | | | uncomfortable to wear over a period of time. |
| So, with that in mind, let's take a look at some | | | | Lung Protection: |
| workshop safety tips as they relate to your | | | | When it comes to workshop safety there is |
| eyes, your ears, and your lungs. | | | | always dust and fumes present in your |
| Eye Protection: | | | | environment and that's why it is essential to |
| When it comes to workshop safety, nothing is | | | | invest your breathing protection. |
| more important than protecting your eyes. | | | | The quickest, easiest, and most inexpensive are |
| Woodworking is always going to produce dust and | | | | the simple white dust masks that you see all the |
| even wood chips that will constantly be flying | | | | time in all the home centers and hardware stores. |
| around. Not wearing eye protection is just not an | | | | With such protection so easy to find and cheap to |
| option. If you don't... it's not a matter of if | | | | buy, you should never be without them. |
| something bad will happen... it's when. | | | | Respirators not only filter dust, but they filter |
| Safety glasses are easy to have around and they | | | | fumes as well. If you're going to be working with |
| are comfortable to wear. Many of them have | | | | finishes or compounds that produce heavy fumes, |
| open sides to them but protect your eyes from | | | | then you should invest in an actual respirator |
| a direct assault. You can find safety glasses with | | | | device. These can be found at most all home |
| side protection and you probably should because | | | | centers. |
| your eyes just aren't worth risking. | | | | With workshop safety, when it comes to your |
| Goggles offer eye protection that is a level up | | | | eyes, your hearing, and your lungs, there is no |
| from the glasses since they fit tightly against your | | | | excuse not to take the proper precautions. |
| face. Safety goggles can be a bit more | | | | Remember the damage you do won't necessarily |
| cumbersome to wear and have the tendency to | | | | be immediate, rather it will be cumulative. The |
| fog up if you're sweating or the humidity is high. | | | | protection is inexpensive and easy to find... so use |
| Face shields aren't necessary for the lion's share | | | | it. |
| of woodworking projects unless you're working | | | | |