1. Always Wear Safety Equipment
This might seem like a good sense sort of rule, but it's an important one to remember. During use of loud power tools like routers and surface area planers, using ear defense is a kept in mind advantage. Likewise, use latex gloves while applying finishes. NEVER BE WITHOUT YOUR SAFETY GLASSES. When entering the shop, these should be the first thing you reach for.2. Wear The Right Clothes
The problem with wearing baggy or loose clothes is the very high possibility that a part of them may get captured in a cutting head or saw blade. As a result, try to constantly use clothes that you are a better match for the woodworking environment, but likewise secure you. Always guarantee that any dangling jewellery or metal such as chains or bracelets, are removed prior to commencing work.
3. Avoid Using Anything That Can Impair Your Reaction Time and Judgement
It's like when you're driving an automobile: you wish to stay out of the alcohol and drug cabinets to prevent mishaps. In the wood shop, the threats are even greater by inadvertently utilizing the incorrect tool because you're too out of it to see what you are doing wrong. NEVER mix alcohol with work, even if it's simply a beer ... or ten.
4. Disconnect Power
Always keep in mind to disconnect the source of power itself before changing blades or bits on your power tools. In addition to making sure the switch is off, ensure there is no electrical energy being powered to the tool, since the switch can malfunction and/or accidentally get switched on.5. Usage A Single Extension Cord
Using one heavy duty extension cable for all your power tools will guarantee that you switch off the power for each tool. A lot of cords can get confusing and be a tripping hazard.6. Never Use Blunt Blades & Bits
While this may appear obvious seeing as how unsafe a dull cutting tool can be. Dull tools will need to be made to work harder to cut and as a result can bind or settle back. Sharp bits and blades will make sure cleaner cuts as well.7. Check Stock for Existing Metal
Prior to sawing through or making a cut, guarantee that the piece of stock doesn't have existing nails, screws or other pieces of metal lodged into it currently. Spinning blades and nails (and other pieces of metal) don't mix well together triggering damage to both the stock and the cutting head. It can also cause stock to kick back and cause injury, so constantly make sure (or utilize a metal detector to make sure for you) that the stock is clean.8. Work Against The Cutter
Many power tools are integrated in a way that requires the direction a piece of wood moves through the tool, is the opposite instructions of the cutting head's movement. So you need to make sure that the blade or router bit cuts against the motion of the wood instead of with it.9. Never Reach Over A Running Blade
Always wait till a spinning blade has actually stopped moving before reaching to eliminate waste or cut-offs and so on. Or to be on the incredibly safe side, remove waste by using a push stick or piece of scrap so as to make sure an inadvertent power tool switch breakdown, does not turn fatal.10. Lessen Distractions
When dealing with diversions, you want to guarantee that you complete what you were doing (finishing a cut, particularly when dealing with a power tool) before turning your attention somewhere else.11. Dream it, then Do it.
Recall that you are working with wood and that whatever you do with it, will result in an irrevocable change. For example, if you mistakenly cut off one of the fingers of a wooden sculpture, then there is nothing more that you can do with that which has been severed. It makes sense for you, therefore, to imagine the steps you will take prior to taking them. This lowers the risk of any possible accidents, too, because in your mind you have already run the procedure and have determined that it is safe.
12. At the first sign of doubt or uncertainty, stop!
Do not proceed with that cut, hole, or wood shaving if you have even the slightest doubt about it. When in doubt, do not proceed. It is always better to err on the side of conservatism rather than move forward aggressively only to run into several “oops” moments followed by expletives and other non-printables.
13. Let your tools rest.
No matter how much of a beating your tools are touted to withstand, it makes really good sense if these tools are given time to rest. Remember that steel, just like people, get tired and stressed, too.
14. Let your workshop breathe!
Maintain proper ventilation in your workshop. If your workshop has windows, keep them open. If there are no windows, then install an exhaust system to let out those dangerous and flammable fumes coming from such chemicals as paint, thinner, varnish, etc.
By following some really simple safety rules, you will be able to enjoy the experience of woodworking and, at the same time, avoid any possible accidents that might inevitably occur in the course of your activity. All the tips mentioned above can actually be summarized in one statement on safety: Use your common sense.
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