SAFETY IN THE WOODSHOP

1. Safety equipment and supplies

• Respirator (N95 type) – Minimum requirement for particulate masks is the governmental standard, N95. Masks should be stored in a container when not being used. Use a VOC type filter mask if you handle a lot of volatile organics.
• First Aid Kit – To be used for minor injuries. Include bandages, gauze, and tweezers.
• Safety glove – Kevlar threaded gloves are necessary when holding small wood carvings. Leather gloves are useful for malleting, rasp and file work, and when handling power tools.
• Vinyl gloves – Use these when handling paint, oils, turpentine or mineral spirits. Latex gloves sometimes produce skin reactions. None of these gloves are “safety gloves” as chemicals can pass through the thin membrane.
• Eyewear – Face shields are required for all grinding and power carving type operations. Safety glasses (standard Z87.1-1989 or more recent year) with side shields provide protection for the eyes but leave skin unprotected. Prescription glasses are not sufficient. Safety goggles should be used when liquid splash protection is desired.
• Eyewash Station – Definitely required if you have a commercial operation with employees. In general a water supply nearby is a good idea when working with chemicals.
• Leather Finger Tabs – Useful when working with knives. A thumb tab is worn on the hand holding the knife.
• Ear plugs or muffs. Extensive work with equipment producing noise levels above 85 dB can cause hearing loss.
• Room Ventilation – Ventilation to 8-10 air changes per hour is desired. When locating these units consider work activities and location of HVAC ducts. Don’t forget to periodically check, clean or replace filters. Most manufacturers provide guidelines.
• Fire Extinguisher – type A,B or A,B, C
• Electrical Cords – Always use cords with a grounded plug. Do not use cords that have been taped. Frayed cords should be replaced.
• Safety Guards – Make certain these are in place and securely attached.
• Vacuum System and Air Handling Equipment – Necessary for maintaining a healthy work environment.
• Shoes – Work shoes are advised when working with power equipment or sharp hand tools. Never carve bare footed or with sandals.
• Work aprons – Heavy duty cloth is acceptable for carving operations. Securely tied back aprons with arm and leg protection are advised for power carving and chain saw operations. (No loose cloth.)
• Telephone – Portable or cell phones are good choices.
• Air lines- Air pressure should be regulated for the intended operating pressure demand of the tool you are using. Compressor manufacturers often issue operating guidelines.

• Make certain you have proper lighting when carving. Spotlights are preferable to overhead incandescent or fluorescent lighting. Lighting located behind and to your side best highlights your work.
• Electrical wiring should meet code condition. This includes using grounded plugs and properly polarized wires. Extension cords should not be left dangling where interference with cutting tools is a possibility. Left on the floor they are trip/fall hazards. Watch out for water contact with these cords. Nicked or frayed wires should be replaced.
• First Aid supplies should be readily accessible.
• A Storage Cabinet for storing more than 5 gallons of volatile chemicals, (e.g. solvents, paint) is advised.
• Wood should be anchored on a solid work bench or solid surface. A carving jig, or a bench hook are very useful for carving in the round. Avoid holding wood object in hand while carving. It is easier and safer to carve with both hands on the tool. Never carve with the wood object held between your legs or nestled against your stomach.
• Tools not needed for a project should be stored away from immediate work area. An unobstructed work area is a safer area.
• Arrange your tools in a predictable manner and in a place where they are not likely to be accidentally dropped onto hard surfaces. Never attempt to catch a falling tool!
• When carving in the round make certain that you can carve all sides without carving towards your body.
• Keep floor swept and clear of tools and other clutter. Wood chips and dust pose many safety concerns (e.g. respiratory, fire, safe footing).
• Do not eat or drink in your work area. Contamination of food is a serious matter.
• Never smoke in your work area. Fire hazard.
• Never use portable heating units in work area capable of combusting wood particles. Check with equipment manufacturer for safety information.
• Those involved in woodburning activities should also consider working on non combustible surfaces and pen mounts for storing hot tools. Tip temperatures can easily reach 900 F, which is well above the wood ignition temperature.
• Do not carve when tired or hurried. Take periodic rest breaks.
• Solvent and paint soaked rags should be properly disposed upon completing the work activity. Do not leave rags in work area as they present a fire hazard. Rags soaked with linseed, tung, or danish oil are potentially spontaneously combustible. Use a sealed metal can to store these used rags. Static charges can explode chemicals when the air to fuel ratio is correct.
• Compressed air should not be used to blow dust or wood particles. Use a vacuum system. Never direct air pressure at your skin. Line pressures above 30 psig could result in the skin being punctured. Dirty air under the skin has resulted in serious, and sometimes fatal injuries.

• Make certain you know how to safely use a power grinder before turning it ON. Not all grinders rotate at the same speed, or direction. A 3450 rpm (or slower) grinder can throw a tool with a devastating result!
• Personal safety equipment is required!
• It is best to initially work with someone experienced in sharpening tools prior to trying to sharpen your tools for the first time.
• Never test the sharpness of a tool (or the temperature of a woodburner) with your finger. Use a softwood test block.

• When using power tools follow manufacturer’s advice for SAFE OPERATION. Equipment guards are useful when found on the tool; useless when in a box. Eye protection is generally required for all power tool operation. NEVER override safety switches or work with an ungrounded electrical circuit.
• Always remember where you inserted the screw to secure the wood to be carved.
• Always use face and hand protection! If the equipment is noisy (above 80dB noise) then you should wear ear protection as well.
• Dress appropriately when working with power tools. Loose clothes can become entangled in the cutting head of a power tool.
• Never operate portable power grinding tools in the presence of others. If the grinder surface breaks up the bulk of the debris flies away from the user if the guard is attached. When selecting abrasive tools for use with flexible shaft tools (Foredom) or other rotary tools (Dremel, Ram, BD, etc) make certain you know the rpm limit of the tool. Also these tools should not be used for levered trenching as they may break.
• Foot powered power tools should always be shut OFF before laying the power unit down. Accidentally powering the unit with an attached aggressive cutting tool could result in injury or serious damage to your carving.
• Gas operated power equipment should never be operated indoors. Chainsaws are noisy, polluting equipment. And they pose a serious fire risk.
• Chainsaw work is physically demanding and requires focused attention to the task. Know your limitations. Follow all manufacturer safety recommendations!
• The type of bar and chain employed in chainsaw carving is not the same as sold on units intended for crosscutting branches. The latter type is too aggressive for safe carving work.

• Hand carving tools are not intended for use as picks or levers. They can easily break, especially the thin wall gouges and veiners.
• Carving tools made from files (metal or wood type) should be used only in limited cases. These files are generally more brittle and can break under malleting action or if used as a pry bar. (Note: Carbon steel files can be made less brittle by heating them in an oven at 430 F for about one hour. – Fine Woodworking.)
• The height for comfortable tool use is approximately at the position your elbows are at when arms at the rest position. Too low and your back suffers; too high and your upper arm muscles and tendons may be stressed. A condition similar to tennis elbow could result.
• Always cut with a natural motion away from your body.
• Use about 30 % of cutting surface when passing a tool through wood. It is more controllable Set tools aside when talking to someone. You would not be the first expressive carver to stab yourself while talking.
• As a rule: Never carve towards your body. Arm (hand) anchoring techniques reduce the risk of stabbing, but do not completely eliminate accidents!
• Never attempt to catch a falling tool. Even dull tools will pierce skin.
• Never use the palm portion of your hand as a mallet. Not only will it hurt, but repetitive blows long term could result in a carpal tunnel disorder
• Use the mallet when working with medium to large size gouges. With one hand placed on the shaft just below the handle, the other arm delivers a steady measured blow to the handle. The total arm is used with the elbow tucked into the body. (This helps you control the swing and reduces wrist injuries due to repetitive motion.)The blow intensity is enhanced by increasing the length of the stroke (arc), not the velocity of the mallet head. Swing with the arm; not the wrist. The natural motion for a right- handed person is from right to left.
• Repeated swinging of a mallet employing wrist action can result in temporary inflammation of the joint. Further stress could produce long term problems.
• Malleting in a vertical direction could result in the tool deflecting off the wood surface towards your body.
• Never use mallets on bent type gouges. A misplaced blow could result in the gouge being deflected off the wood surface.
• When carving fine detail it is best to hold the blade or shank of a full size tool with both hands. This gives you excellent control of the tool
• You know it is time to resharpen a tool when the freshly cut wood surface no longer appears burnished. Not only do sharp tools produce a better result; less effort is required to produce the desired result.
• When cutting end grain try to cut the wood at approximately 15 degrees or more to avoid chatter or tear effect. Levering action may break a fine tool edge. A spokeshave may be safer, more efficient than other hand tools for removing end grain wood.
• Don’t forget to clean up the clutter as you work.
• Wood maintained at a moisture content of 8-15% carves best. However each wood has its own carving characteristics.

• When working with chemicals (e,g., glue, solvents, finishes, fillers) always follow manufacturers guidelines. Acquire MSDS (material safety data sheet) from chemical manufacturer to determine risk and safety concerns. If you observe a skin or respiratory response – STOP what you are doing and seek medical advice. We are all susceptible to chemical attack at some exposure level. Also our susceptibility increases as we age and develop other medical problems. Always know what the minimal eye, skin and respiratory protection is needed when using chemicals.
• Cyanoacrylate adhesives, (e.g, Hot Stuff, super glue, Krazy glue), can bind your skin to another surface in less than 10 seconds. It is advisable to wear vinyl gloves when gluing small objects. These are all hazardous to eyes, skin, and respiratory system. The accelerator used with these glues poses similar health risks and is also very flammable. Do wear eye protection.
• Woodburning on surfaces previously coated with cyanoacrylate glue, paint, or other sealants may release harmful emissions and thus impose additional respiratory hazard. Proper respiratory controls with cross ventilation are minimal issues to be addressed. Acquire MSDS from chemical manufacturer to determine risk and safety concerns.

1. Wood speck in eye. Never roll eye ball or massage eyelid. Flush the eye with water for several minutes. If pain persists then seek medical assistance.
2. Chemicals – Immediately flush the eye for up to 15 min. Then seek medical attention.
3. Laceration – Seek immediate emergency medical assistance.