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Guides · Section 09

Safety

Safe habits are part of the method, not an extra step. These guides cover guarding and hand position at the machines, kickback and how to avoid it, controlling dust, and the eye, hearing and respiratory protection a workshop needs.

Subjects
3
Guides
8
Level
Beginner

Start here

Foundation guide

Woodworking Safety Rules for Every Shop

Woodworking safety tips that apply across the shop: layers of control, guards, hands and workholding, tool changes, protective equipment, dust and electricity.

Beginner · 9 min readRead the guide

In this section

Machine safety

Guards, push sticks, kickback and keeping hands clear.

  1. Band Saw Safety: Guards, Guides, Hands and BladesBand saw safety from four makers' manuals and OSHA: guard and guide height, hands and push sticks, small parts, backing out, jams, blade changes and breakage.Beginner · 4 min read
  2. Moisture Meter Safety: Sharp Pins, Batteries and True ReadingsUsing a moisture meter safely and keeping it reading true: capped pins, flammable vapours, batteries, drops and water, temperature changes and treated wood.Beginner · 4 min read
  3. Table Saw Blade Guards, Riving Knives and SplittersThe guard, splitter, riving knife and anti-kickback pawls told apart: what each one stops, when it comes off, and how to check it before cutting.Beginner · 5 min read
  4. Table Saw Safety: Guards, Kickback and Safe HabitsWhat the guard, riving knife and pawls each do, how kickback actually happens and which precaution answers each cause, and the habits saw makers require.Beginner · 7 min read
  5. Track Saw Safety: Kickback, Riving Knife and Splinter GuardsKickback on a plunge saw and what answers each cause: the riving knife, anti-kickback and anti-tip controls, splinter strips and guards, scoring cuts and dust.Beginner · 5 min read
  6. Woodworking Safety Equipment: Choosing Protection for Each HazardWoodworking safety equipment as the last layer of control: eye and face protection, hearing protectors, respirators and gloves matched to each shop hazard.Beginner · 8 min read

More in this section

  1. Food-Safe Wood Finishes: What the Evidence SupportsWhat makers, the FDA and the Forest Products Laboratory actually say about finishes on cutting boards, bowls and children's items — and where they stop.Beginner · 5 min read

What this section covers

  1. 9.1

    Machine safety

    Guards, push sticks, kickback and keeping hands clear.

    7 guides

  2. 9.2

    Dust control

    Collection, extraction and cleaning up.

  3. 9.3

    Protective equipment

    Eye, hearing and respiratory protection.

Work it out

Related reference.