Section 2.1 General Safety 27
Work Safely
• Get your instructor’s permission before you
begin work.
• No work should be done when the
instructor is not in the room.
• Respect the rights of others and their
property.
• Conduct yourself in a positive manner that
will contribute to the total safety program in
the woodshop. Do not engage in horseplay.
• Look where you are going. Walk, don’t run.
Protect Yourself
• Loose clothing can easily get caught in the
moving parts of a machine. Wear short
sleeves or roll up long sleeves. Keep your
shirt tucked in. Do not wear any loose
jewelry. Remove rings and watches.
• Wear a dust mask if dusty conditions
prevail. The dust mask should be approved
by NIOSH. Use a NIOSH-approved
respirator with an organic fi lter if harmful
vapors are present.
• Wear appropriate personal protective
equipment to protect eyes, ears, and hands.
• When cleaning, avoid blowing or brushing
sawdust into your eyes or your classmates’
eyes. Do not rub your eyes if sawdust or any
other foreign object gets into them. Instead,
get immediate assistance. Avoid creating
excessive amounts of dust while sanding or
during cleanup.
• Ask for help when carrying heavy or bulky
objects.
• Exercise caution in the handling of
compressed air.
• Use care when handling material with
sharp edges.
• Keep your hands dry when handling
electric power cords. Water makes skin a
better conductor, and an electrical shock
could result.
Know the Emergency
Procedures
• Be prepared before an accident happens.
Your instructor will review emergency
procedures. Make sure you understand
them.
• Report even the slightest injury. Small cuts
or other minor injuries may become serious
if left unattended.
• Every woodshop should have a basic
fi rst aid kit. The kit should include clean,
sterile bandages and other supplies to treat
minor cuts and nicks. Be sure you know
the location of the fi rst aid kit. Follow your
shop’s rules regarding use of the kit.
Keep the Work Area Safe
• Notify your instructor if you notice any
unsafe conditions; for example, dull tools or
frayed electrical cords.
• Keep the fl oor clear of scraps of material
and wood shavings.
• When stacking lumber, make sure it will not
shift or fall.
• Place clamped stock so it will not fall. Make
sure the clamps do not extend into the
pathway.
• Place all used rags in a metal fi reproof
container, Figure 2-10.
• Keep the air as clean as possible. Use the
dust collection system, if available in your
woodshop.
• The exhaust ventilation fan should be
turned on for any painting or fi nishing
or whenever any fumes are present in the
room.
• Keep the lids on containers of fi nishes,
such as paints or varnish, when they are
not in use. Many fi nishes emit vapors that
may be harmful if the area is not properly
ventilated.