Workshop Safety

It is better to lose one minute in life… than to lose life in a minute.

Tips for Proper Workshop Safety:

A workshop is only as safe as you make it.  Here are a few ground rules to follow.

Keep the workshop as clean and neat as you can. Of course, a workshop is used for a number of purposes and it can easily get cluttered. Make it a habit to organize on a daily basis. Putting tools and materials in their proper places at the end of each job is very important.

Remember to keep all combustible items away from spark-producing activities.  Choose a safe place to store your gas can.  Paint and glass can be damaged by sparks so keep these away from spark-producing equipment as well.

Remember to wear safety goggles and a face shield when grinding or using cutting tools. Wearing them ensures you never have to go to the emergency room for a foreign body in your eye.

Make sure shelving and work surfaces are stable and strong enough for their purpose.  This prevents objects from falling and potentially causing painful injuries. Maintain organization and control of your work space.

Be alert to any sudden interruptions in the form of kids, pets or friends who might just walk into your workshop. Visualize and plan your projects with a view to avoid accidents.

Maintain your tools so that they are clean and functional. It can be quite frustrating to find out that a tool is not working when you need it to work.

Stay focused on the job.  If you are not feeling up to it, leave the job for another time. Follow your intuition and instinct.