As turkey season is drawing near, and many call makers are busy in their shops, lets have a little discussion about safety. I have worked around power tools much of my career and have seen many incidents of job related injuries. At one time I was in a position of filing workers compensation and OSHA accident and incident reports. A number of recurring injuries seemed prevalent. Topping the list seemed to be eye injuries, cuts, slips, falls, strained muscles and more serious incidents involving machinery. Many of these incidents could have been prevented, others were simply accidents. While we can't forsee everything that might happen while working, we can take precautions to avoid some of them, most are common sense.
Eye Safety: Always wear appropriate safety glasses or other eye wear including face shields while working around tables saws,lathes,sanders, planers, etc. Make sure they are clean and don't restrict vision.
Hand safety: Gloves are sometimes necessary, but should never be worn while performing cutting, planing, or other operations. A glove can catch and pull your hand into the machine you are using. Keep hands away from blades by the use of push sticks.Sometimes for small item a sacrificial piece glued or securely fastened by means of glue or double faced tape helps in keeping hands away from blades.
Never reach over a blade to remove a piece while the blade is still turning, use a push stick and wait until the bade has stopped moving if possible.
Disconnect a tool before attempting to change a blade or remove something caught in a machine, a switch can inadvertently be bumped so unplug it first .
Clothing: Always wear appropriate clothing, loose sleeves, cuffs, etc can get caught in spinning tools such as a lathes, drills etc. Sturdy foot gear is also a good idea, especially if standing for long periods of time and to eliminate potential injury.
Dust masks and respirators are also a good idea, protect your lungs if you want to live to be an old call maker
Work area: Sometimes while working we may not have a clear view of our surroundings, so make sure your area is clear of potential tripping hazards. I have tripped over almost everything in my shop, cords,hoses, other junk on the floor, so I have learned, hopefully, get that stuff out of the way!
Rubber mats near work stations where you are standing for long periods of time help prevent tired feet and sore backs, so are a good idea. Most can be purchased cheaply and add to your comfort level. They can also help save the finish on a call if it gets dropped.
These are just a few general safety tips, feel free to add your own, I am sure I have forgotten or left out a few. The main thing is to work safely and have fun, nothing can ruin an enjoyable day as quickly as an accident in the shop.
