There are a number of things that every wood worker needs to know when they are working with power tools (to a lessor extent, hand tools). Some things are plainly obvious but others are often overlooked. On
serious side, planning ahead may be what save your life. Some of power tools available are very powerful and often rotate at extremely high speeds. Hard carbide has very little trouble with soft flesh. I have worked in remote areas where it was several hours to hospital and safety was an absolute priority.
Remember what might be obvious now may become very clouded when injured and you are in shock. The list below (not necessarily in order of importance) will greatly reduce chance of injury.
Read instruction manuals that come with power tools that you buy and learn about tool. There is always information specific to safe operation and other precautions associated with that particular tool. After all manufacturer know their tools better then anyone. Wear ear, eye and if needed face protection. This is obvious, for face and eye's, remember hard steel, soft flesh. Hearing protection is often forgotten because it is such a gradual change. The simple fact is that running wood working tools for long durations without hearing protection is going to reduce your hearing.
Do Not wear loose clothing or have long hair hanging free. This can result in severe injury if hair or clothing gets caught in machine. People have been scalped from industrial machinery by not taking right precautions.
Keeping shop neat and tidy will reduce chance of slip and fall accidents. Lot of time while in shop you are focused on task at hand and not realize where your feet are. Always sweep up saw dust or scraps or better yet install a dust collection system to collect wood debris from tools and dispose of it.
