Woodworking safety: eye and ear protection, wood dust, push sticks and guards

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Most woodworking injuries come from a short list of causes: a machine catching something, flying chips, long exposure to noise and dust that nobody can see. None of it requires expensive kit to prevent, only habits. This guide covers the basics for a home workshop; for any particular machine, the manufacturer's manual comes first.

Protect your eyes, every time

Chips, splinters and broken bits fly from saws, routers, sanders and even hand chiselling. Wear safety glasses or goggles whenever a tool is cutting, not only for the dangerous-looking jobs. Ordinary prescription glasses are not built for impact; over-glasses or prescription safety glasses are.

Protect your hearing

Routers, planers, table saws and many sanders are loud enough to damage hearing over time, and the damage is permanent and gradual, so you do not notice it happening. Wear ear defenders or earplugs whenever you run a power tool for more than a moment. Comfortable protection is the protection you actually wear.

Take wood dust seriously

Wood dust is a real health hazard, not just mess.

The UK's Health and Safety Executive says hardwood dust can cause cancer, particularly of the nose, and that wood dust can cause asthma. It reports that carpenters and joiners are around four times more likely to get asthma than other workers in the UK.
Some woods, including certain softwoods such as western red cedar, are known for causing asthma and skin problems in some people.
MDF dust contains resin as well as wood fibre, and safety data sheets for MDF treat cutting and especially sanding as the point where the hazard arises.

How to reduce it:

Control dust at the source. Connect sanders and saws to a dust extractor or a vacuum where possible. Sweeping stirs up the finest dust; vacuum instead.
Wear a properly fitted respirator rated for fine dust when sanding or machining. A loose paper mask offers little protection.
Ventilate the space, and work outdoors for the dustiest jobs if you can.
Sand less by cutting and planing cleanly in the first place.

Machines: guards, push sticks and kickback

Keep guards fitted. Blade guards, riving knives and anti-kickback devices are there for a reason. If a guard gets in the way of a cut, the cut probably needs a different method or tool.
Use push sticks on a table saw, router table or similar machine whenever your hand would come close to the blade. Push in the middle of the board, not on one edge, so it does not twist towards the blade.
Understand kickback: on a table saw, a board can pinch the back of the blade and be thrown back at the operator with great force. A correctly set riving knife, a straight fence and never cutting freehand all reduce the risk.
Never reach over or behind a running blade, and wait for it to stop completely before clearing offcuts.
Unplug or remove the battery before changing blades or bits.

No loose clothing, jewellery or hair

Spinning blades, bits and chucks can grab a sleeve, a cord, a necklace or long hair in a fraction of a second and pull you in. Before switching on a machine:

roll up or fasten sleeves, take off ties, scarves and dangling cords
remove rings, bracelets and watches
tie long hair back
think twice about loose gloves near rotating parts, for the same reason

Hand tools have rules too

Cut away from your body and keep your other hand behind the edge of a chisel or knife.
Clamp the work so it cannot move; chasing a sliding piece is how slips happen.
A sharp tool is safer than a blunt one because it needs less force.

The workshop itself

Keep the floor clear of offcuts and cables.
Store finishes and solvents closed and away from heat. Rags soaked in drying oils such as linseed can heat up and catch fire on their own; lay them flat outdoors to dry or put them in water in a sealed metal container.
Keep a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher within reach.
Do not work tired, rushed or after drinking.

Have you had a near miss in the workshop, or have a safety habit you swear by? Share it in the comments to help others.