Don't let your table saw catch you working unsafely in
workshop. Shop and Personal Safety:
Being safety conscious should be priority for everyone whether they are a serious wood worker or just a week-end warrior. Shop safety begins when you buy a new tool, before operating it you should read through and understand operators manual. This will have important instructions about safe operation of that particular tool.
Lets face it! All wood working machines are made to remove wood, which is considerably harder than flesh and bone. Some tools are much more dangerous than other. I would say that a table saw is most dangerous stationary tool and circular saw most dangerous hand tool.
Aside from reading manuals that come with your tools, protecting your hearing and eyes should be high on safety priorities list. Some people, me included, rely on prescription glasses for protection. This is OK but really doesn't provide full coverage.
If you don't protect your ears you will loose your hearing. This is not debatable! After 25 years of operating power tools without protection my father wears a hearing aid.
One aspect of safe wood working that is often overlooked is dust. Wood dust is a carcinogenic. Recient studies have shown wood workers that don't use dust masks or have a dust collection system have higher rates of nasal cancer.
