Those who need vision correction can even purchase safety classes with bifocal inserts in different strengths for under $20. Unfortunately, people get lazy or too comfortable or they feel that the safety equipment gets in the way. Some people feel that they are uncomfortable and impair vision, but they can be a critical way to protect your long-term health if you plan to spend a lot of time woodworking.Fortunately, the advances in equipment and safety products have made it much more easy to have a safe working environment."But don't get so comfortable with your work and surroundings that you forget to think about what you are doing. If you do it every time you go to make a turn, even if it's just going out of the driveway, then you will remember to do it in every situation, especially when it counts the most.There are several methods available, with the most basic being a dust mask.Copyright ? 2005 by Ferhat Gul. All rights reserved. Long hair should be pulled back as well. A circular saw, router, or other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill if not used properly.Take Your Time As we all know, when we rush to finish something, mistakes tend to happen. If you get in the habit of following these steps every time, you will develop good safety skills.Don't force a saw cut. To learn more please refer to the newly published "Woodworking Beginner's Guide" mentioned at the end of this article. Even with hand tools, it is important to make sure you aren't going to saw through something electrical or nail into your hand. Even if you are just making one cut or a quick drill hole, all it takes is one second for things to go bad. Even hand tools, which must be extremely sharp to provide best results, can cause serious injuries.Control Your Environment It is also important to prepare your work environment before starting a project.Ear Protection Some power tools can be quite noisy and can damage hearing.Another important aspect of woodworking safety is to know your tools and use them appropriately and safely. A quality pair of glasses will cost around $12 and could last you your entire life if properly cared for and put away when not in use. They do not filter out toxic materials with fumes.Earplugs work well, earmuffs work even better, and a combination of the two is ideal when working with loud equipment that produces sound in the high decibel range. It describes many tools that beginners are likely to need and offers information about how to use and care for them. Innovative designs improve breathing and deter fogging of safety glasses. Dust Collection Over the past decade or two, extensive research has been done on the hazards of inhaling wood dust and particles, and the results show that it can cause respiratory diseases. You can get them with a radio and antenna built in for around $50.One other environmental factor mentioned by several of the woodworkers was to have a phone nearby in case an accident does occur and you need to call for help. Earplugs cost just pennies, and a set of earmuffs runs about $15. In addition, if tools should break or a part comes loose, your eyes and forehead will be protected. Many of us know a longtime woodworker who has difficulty hearing due to exposure to equipment over the years.. Too many accidents have happened to just brush away this safety concern. It is important to capture and remove these particles from the air or protect yourself from breathing them. It usually happens far too quickly to be able to close your eyes or look away. In addition, the sawdust and fumes from wood can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled on a regular basis, especially if the wood was harvested from an orchard or tree farm where pesticides were used to control insects.
