General Shop Safety Practices

General Safety Practices

• Always wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Work at a safe pace; do not rush.
• If unsure about a task or tool use, ask for help.
• Ensure proper training for the tools used.
• Maintain a clean workspace.
• Eliminate distractions when using power tools.
• Take breaks if needed.
• Do not take shortcuts.
• If a tool malfunctions (unusual noise, resistance, burning smell), stop and investigate.

Reasons for Unsafe Work Practices

• Distraction or inattention.
• Lack of training.
• Feeling rushed.
• Frustration and forcing tools.
• Uncertainty and reluctance to seek help.
• Laziness.
• Cluttered workspace.

Consequences of Unsafe Work Practices

• Self-inflicted and/or others' injuries.
• Tool and equipment damage.
• Damage to projects or materials.

General Shop and Tool Safety

• Adhere to the safety contract.
• Ensure tools are not left running unattended.
• Avoid distracting others using power tools.
• If a tool operates improperly, shut it down and ask for help.
• Use proper tool guards.
• Ensure bits, blades, or spindles are securely attached before use.
• Avoid forcing tools—investigate and ask for assistance if a tool resists.
• Allow tools to fully stop before adjustment.
• Maintain a clean workspace throughout all periods of work.
• Know the locations of first aid, eye wash, fire extinguishers, and exits.
• Be mindful of surroundings, communicate with peers, and maintain appropriate spacing.

Bandsaw Safety

• Feeding Material: Maintain proper hand and finger positioning when feeding material through the saw.
• Removing Cut Pieces: Turn off the bandsaw and allow the blade to stop completely or use a piece of scrap wood to push cut pieces to the back.
• Most Dangerous Part: The end of the cut.
• Blade Guard Height: The base of the blade guard should be approximately ¼ inch above the top of the workpiece.
• Relief Cuts: Used to create relief from the wood.
• Kerf Use: Use the kerf to navigate tight curves.
• Preventing Blade Flexing: Avoid applying excessive pressure and force.

Scroll Saw Safety

• Blade Orientation: Teeth should face the direction of the cut.
• Attention Points: Blade tension, chattering, downward force.
• Blade Tension Adjustment: Adjust using the specified knob.
• Blade Tension Issues: Too low—blade wobbles, too high—blade breaks.
• Chattering: Stop the saw to resolve.
• Force Application: Apply downward force to the workpiece on the table.

Drill Press Safety

• Workpiece Security: Secure the workpiece.
• Workpiece Support: Use a sacrificial board when drilling through material.
• Feeding Technique: Use intermittent strokes, not constant pressure.
• Height Adjustment Procedures: Lock the table before and after height adjustment.
• Feed Handle Release: Do not release the feed handle before the tool stops completely.

Belt and Disk Sander Safety

• Safe Sanding Area: Sand on the designated side of the disc/belt, where the motion is downward and towards the table.
• Belt Tracking: Shut off the tool immediately and notify the instructor.
• Small Workpieces: Avoid sanding small objects.
• Pressure Application: Apply appropriate pressure, avoid excessive force.
• Gloves: Do not use gloves.

Oscillating Spindle Sander Safety

• Spindle Retention: Reverse threads secure the spindle.
• Force Application: Apply appropriate force.
• Small Workpieces: Support the work if it's too small to hold safely.
• Direction: Maintain control by working in the counterclockwise direction.

Compound Mitre Saw Safety

• Sawing Motion: Perform the correct sawing motion.
• Blade Raise Time: Lift the blade after the cut has stopped completely.
• Blade Starting Position: Start the saw at the top.
• Rip Cuts: Cannot make rip cuts.
• Hand Placement: Maintain proper hand positioning.
• Longer Workpieces: Use proper support.
• Arm Position: Do not cross arms.
• Post-Adjustment Check: Double-check and lock all adjustments.
• Small Workpieces: Avoid cutting small pieces of wood.
• Warped Wood: Do not cut warped wood without instructor assistance.
• Kickback: Proper technique and secure workpieces minimize kickback.
• Wide Workpieces: Push down and toward the fence.
• Narrow Workpieces: Keep the slide mechanism locked.

Bandsaw Basics

• Purpose and advantages/disadvantages of the tool
• Hazards, including getting your hands close to the blade, guard height issues, blade pops, leaving the guard up, reaching in while the blade is moving, breaking the blade and working piece getting thrown
• Safety procedures, including turning off the machine and waiting until the blade stops, pushing pieces to the back, adjusting the guard, avoiding working the piece too hard, placing a flat surface on the bottom of the wood

Drill Press Basics

• Purpose and advantages/disadvantages of the tool
• Hazards, including items getting caught in the chuck, workpiece spinning, workpiece lifting, table moving
• Procedures for putting the bit in the chuck, adjusting the table height, checking quill travel, securing the workpiece, starting and finishing the drilling

Scroll Saw Basics

• Purpose and advantages/disadvantages of the tool
• Hazards, most importantly breaking the blade, losing control, and cutting hands on the blade; procedures for adjusting the tension, working with the guard for safety, apply downward force, slowing down for better control, preventing blade pops

Belt and Disc Sander Basics

• Purpose and advantages/disadvantages of the tool
• Hazards, including losing control over the workpiece, getting hands or other body parts on the sanding parts, anything getting caught in the machine
• Procedures for safe sanding area, supporting the work, using the correct pressure, not sanding small pieces, and for belt tracking; procedures for removing materials and using the correct hand positioning to eliminate hazards