When I was a Safety Supervisor, we stressed that even though we were laying gas/oil pipeline there were many tasks to simply laying pipe. Until a lot of the experienced pipe-liners (forget the green hands) were exposed to identifying the separate tasks, they only thought of the big hazards, being crushed, burned, etc. They could do their work all day long, but could not break their work down into smaller separate tasks, or identify hazards, much less determine mitigations to avoid an injury, or property damage.
Each morning individual crews had to complete a JSA, Job Safety Analysis, that named the task, defined the hazards, and how they would be mitigated.
Each of us work with wood, but different types of work (lathes, scrollsaws,, different tools, and different hazards. We also share a lot of hazards, and we all have to be aware with every task new hazards may have come into play.
You are your boss, fellow worker, and safety rep in your shop.
Make a list of the hazards you see most and how you mitigate them. Do the same when learning a new skill. Talk yourself through a project and listen to yourself describe the possible hazards.
1. Inspect your tools periodically.
2. Keep your workspace uncluttered.
3. Eliminate trip hazards.
4. Stay hydrated and work in well ventilated areas.
Not everything can be covered here, just keep your safety paramount during your time in your shop so you can continue to do all the things you enjoy.
Please contribute your thoughts on shop safety, concerning the type of woodworking you do.
Thanks for reading.
Trip hazards are paramount. Keep cord and hoses off the floor. Sprung, retractable reels are the best thing since the invention of chocolate.
Dust collection....I often don't realize how cloudy it is in my shop until I start coughing.....too late.
Be aware of PERSONALLY toxic wood species. I used to be allergic to most African imports, (Not any more, I'm over that). I was out for days once, when building a counter-top on-site from solid Afrimosa. I couldn't breath. Dust mask doesn't really do it. 2 cup respirator is what I use now when I need to mask up. Also, I was out for 2 weeks one time, because of a splinter from Douglas Fir. Yeah, you read that right.....a splinter! Brother tossed a chunk back down to be shaved a hair. I caught it, (no gloves) and shave it, then tossed it back up to the installer dude. I got the splinter when I caught it. The next day, I was sick..... for the next 2 weeks🤮. Then I sat up in bed and squeezed a bit on my sore finger, when this tiny splinter popped out. Suddenly, I was hungry and ready to eat again. Fever abated. A domestic wood..... who'd a thunk it?
Any time we work with a species we're not experienced with, we might want to do a little research on its toxicity to humans and animals.