Woodworker’s Safety Week (May 5th-May 9th)
The Wood Whisperer is proud to announce the first annual Woodworker’s Safety Week. Every year, during the first full week of May, I hope the woodworking world will join me in taking some time to refresh our memories about the importance of safety and proper techniques. Most of you probably know that I am by no means preachy when it comes to safety. I am a big believer in personal responsibility. But with so many new woodworkers joining us every day, its important to reinforce the things that may seem like common sense to a seasoned woodworker. And even seasoned woodworkers can always use a refresher course. So I would like to think of Woodworker’s Safety Week as just that, a refresher course on safety.
Now here’s a little back story for you. A few weeks ago, Brent (a friend of the show) emailed me some pictures of the aftermath of his jointer injury. I know the jointer is dangerous and I thought I had an idea of what kind of damage that tool might do. But there was something about actually seeing the pictures that had a profound affect on me. It made me realize how easily something can go wrong, even when we think we are safe. And that was all the inspiration I needed to put something like this in motion. I will start the week off in May with Brent’s story and his pictures. Don’t worry, they will be text links, so if you don’t want to look at them you won’t have to.
Just a few of the things you can expect to see that week are safety-related videos from me as well as a few from Finewoodworking.com. We will also have daily giveaways, sponsored by Rockler. And be sure to check all of the sites in The Wood Whisperer Network. I know folks will be posting articles, videos, and some are even having their own giveaways! And keep an eye out for the LumberJocks/Wood Whisperer Safety Challenge that will be announced soon. Its going to be a great event, and hopefully it will result in the prevention of shop accidents, which is obviously the ultimate goal.
If you have your name in for the regular Wood Whisperer Giveaway, you are already entered into the Rockler-sponsored giveaways. But if you haven’t yet entered, just email us at TWWPromo@gmail.com. Thanks everybody, and let’s make sure the first Woodworker’s Safety Week goes off with a bang (just make sure you are wearing hearing protection). haha.
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Hey, can you throw in a years subscription to Lumber Whisperer Magazine for the contest drawing?!? :-D
Great Idea, safety sometimes gets put aside for production esp for those of us who have worked in the industry, I have seen some real accidents just waiting to happen. I think one think we over look a lot is lifting working as a cabinetmaker and moving around sheets of plywood, MDF and cabinet grade PB in confined space whether cutting on the table saw or at the bench we sometimes get ourself in some pretty distorted positions that can lead to some serious back injuries. I know I blew out my disc between L4 and L5 and put end to me being a full time finish carpenter, but not my woodworking. keep up the good work
This might be a good idea, in light of the projectile in my shop yesterday. I was sawing 2 1/4 inch strips of plywood and got distracted…good thing it hit a box before the wall or,worse me.
The two times this has happened really shows what 3hp of spinning blade can do! I could definitely use a “getting back in the shop” safety refresher. Man, that poor box!
Excellent idea!
But, we really need more. I added the following to Gary Rogowski’s blog this morning, in response to his “Getting Back on the Pony” entry.
(http://nwspdx.wordpress.com/20.....-the-pony/)
“I subscribe to dozens of woodworking blogs and forums. Many warn about safety often enough, but I have yet to find a good, concise, list of practices to avoid. Yes, there’s the generic advice that says avoid pinching the workpiece into the spinning blade. That’s too generic, and newcomers won’t have either the practice or analytical experience that helps them recognize the condition *before* it happens.
“Writing that list (along with illustrations) would be a really good contribution. I’m envisioning something like “Hazardous practices with table saws” as a starter. They seem to be the source of most injuries. Show us the setups that should never ever be attempted, the ones that are guaranteed to kick a piece back into the operator’s gut, or across the street into the neighbor’s yard. Then show us the next more dangerous, the ones that throw the workpiece away from the operator. Show the setups that might work with careful setup and good procedure. Then show us all the safe procedures (i.e. moving the workpiece through with good push / holding tools).
“If there’s something “out there” like this, I haven’t found it yet. I think it would be an excellent compendium for a good teacher to build, a resource that might save some injuries, pain, and suffering.”
Since adding that comment to Gary’s blog, I’ve done some googling on woodworking safety. The top hits are woefully superficial. They look like the list of things a corporate lawyer would want published to limit a business liability. Such as, Keep your shop clean, pay attention to what your doing, avoid distractions, don’t rush, etc. etc,
There’s precious little (easily found) that says, “if you do it this way, the saw will kick it back into your head.”
So, how about it? How about a section or series on “don’t do these” practices?
Great idea Bob. I will keep that in mind as I develop my safety videos for that week. Maybe that should be the approach I take for all of them: “Don’t do this because THIS will happen.” Thanks for the suggestion.
Great topic…way too many woodworkers out there who can no longer count to 10 without removing a shoe.
Here’s a few of my tips to aid in keeping your digits…
1) I put a mirror (plastic type is best) up on the wall behind my Radial Arm Saw. It helps to know when someone is waliking into my shop without me having to turn around and lose my vision of the moving blade.
2) I also added a old cow bell to the side door for the same reason. Rings when someone enters the shop from outside. When machines are running and I’m concentrating on the task at hand, I do not want any surprises.
3) Dust collection Dust collection and more Dust collection…and oh yes, Dust collection….make sure you get it ALL. It’s the fine dust that will make a home in your lungs over time. Some wood varities are toxic and you do not need that excitment.. Sanding is the worst generator of fine dust (Duh!). Even the low-end collection gear will pick up the big stuff. You need a large volumne of air to get the small stuff….one case where you should sweat the small stuff!
Regards,
Don
Katy,Tx
Marc,
I am really enjoying the videos and with the safety week thing you clearly filled a void. Just got a new cabinet saw and safety’s been on my mind, so it’s timely for me to say the least.
I have two questions for you:
1) Though the grizzly descriptions of shop accidents that have been brought online in the last week have a HIGH “scare you straight” value, they really force me to think to myself: “well, I guess injury is INEVITABLE if all these pros get hurt.” My question is, IS injury inevitable? (My own answer: I’ve zoomed in on New Yankee Workshop videos and Norm appears to still have all his fingers :-)
2) I’m having trouble finding a couple of the more specialized safety devices you show in your shop (not even finding them in the WWStore). Can you point me to the splitter/antikickback device you use on your tablesaw?
Thanks! (and keep up the great stuff!)
–David