Tips to Keep You Safe While Working in the Wood Shop

Many people love woodworking. You might do construction work full-time or you could have a wood shop in your garage that you use for making gifts for friends. There are certainly dangers you'll face when working with the materials and tools in a woodshop. Here are a few ways to keep yourself safe so you can still do something you love.

Keep your ears safe and healthy

A typical woodshop has plenty of power tools. You might have a circular saw, a table saw, a compound meter saw, and other various drills and tools. All these power tools can be extremely loud and damaging to your ears, especially if you spend hours in your shop being exposed to loud noise over a long time. Make sure you keep your ears protected and healthy, and buy some sort of hearing protection that you can wear while using the tools. There are a variety of safety muffs and earplugs that will work well to protect the delicate nerve cells in the inner ear.

If you do experience hearing loss from woodworking, don't panic. If you're hearing ringing or other phantom noises in your ear, you might be suffering from tinnitus. Tinnitus 911 is a natural way to cure this medical condition with ingredients like vitamin C, folic acid, and green tea. These natural ingredients help calm your nervous system and your mind, eliminating the annoying ringing or buzzing you're hearing. Protect your ears and take natural remedies when needed and you'll be able to continue woodworking safely.

Protect yourself against wood dust

Wood dust, which is produced during pretty much every woodworking activity, isn't great for your health. Wood contains natural chemicals, bacteria, mold, and fungi, none of which are great for people to breathe in. In fact, wood dust can cause cancer of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and nasopharynx. Your eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system can be irritated by the dust and you might find yourself suffering from an allergic reaction. In short, it's not good for you.

Have a way to protect yourself against sawdust. Implement one or more table saw dust collection methods in your shop. Use a dust bag to collect debris right from the saw itself. Use a blade guard to keep dust from flying all over while you're working with a piece of wood. A simple shop vac will do a great job of cleaning up the workshop. Whatever dust collection system you choose, make sure you're doing it consistently and keeping the shop clean. Don't let the threat of illness stop you from doing what you love.

Wash your hands frequently

It might seem strange to bother washing your hands when they're just going to get dirty again, but it's important that you keep your hands clean throughout your work. You might be using chemicals like paint thinner or stripper, stains, or finishes. If possible, choose safer products for your shop and wash your hands frequently if you're not wearing gloves.

Look for water-based products instead of those that are solvent-based. Consider alternative ways to remove paint and read product labels carefully so you know what you're working with. Make sure every item in your shop has a label and is properly closed. You don't want to spill a flammable chemical and find your shop in danger of burning down. Be aware of what's in your woodshop and keep your hands clean.

Woodworking is an extremely rewarding career or hobby. Make sure you're staying safe while working in your woodshop and be aware of the potential dangers. If anyone works with you, have a safety meeting and determine the best way to keep each other safe.