[Barry747]

Focus, focus, focus. A couple of years ago I was resawing some walnut on the band saw. I had three boards to cut and, after the first two, I noticed sawdust had built up at the bottom of the fence and I was afraid that the next board wouldn't be flush. So, without thinking (the root of most accidents) I brushed the saw dust away with my hand without turning off the saw. Fortunately, I didn't quite hit the bone but it was close. A few stiches into the front of my left hand ring finger, and a couple of weeks out of the shop taught me a lesson that I thought I already knew. On the up side, every time i walk into the shop the first machine I see is the band saw and it brings back the memory. To me it's a constant reminder to pay attention not only to the specific task (like wiping away sawdust0 but to my complete environment. Like the situational awareness I learned in the army but applied to the shop.

 

[Barry747]

I was writing another post to this thread when I read Marco's. The discussion should really be about shop safety in general. I've been a DIYer all my life and a woodworker for the last 17 years. I've only had one serious injury, described in my last post, that sent me to the emergency room. However, the tool that causes my most frequent injuries, small as they are, are my chisels. Sometimes I don't even know that I've cut myself until I see blood on the workpiece. I'm usually more annoyed that I have to clean up wood than I am that I have to get a band aid. The cause is normally carelessness. I'm either in a hurry or I'm too focused on the workpiece and move my hand into the path of the chisel. The last time I did this was probably over a year ago. Now, just like looking at my band saw to remind me to be careful, I've finally added the chisels to my mental list. I'm not even going to tell you how I cut myself on on a straight router bit trying to get it out of it's case.

 

[Barry747]

two things
one obnoxious and one helpful
helpful: when you are cut to stop the bleeding wrap the cut in unglazed brown paper like from super market my mother taught me that it works every time!
obnoxious: whenever you read any instruction manual there is always a paragraph on safety BUT ITS IN SUCH SMALL PRINT!!! its like they wants to hide it it always irks me

Interesting idea. I already have paper bags in the shop that I use to knock down nibs in dry finish. I'll try that the next time I cut myself. Probably won't have to wait that long to try it out
.
Manual? I don't need to read no stinking manual! Well, actually I do. Usually several times. In terms of safety, it seems that most of the manuals come with several pages of obvious safety instructions, sort of, "don't shove paper clips into live receptacles while standing in a puddle of water during a lightening storm". The only safety instruction I'll look at are those embedded in the manual that are specifically associated with a part or process. Besides, all of my accidents have been due to either laziness or stupidity. No manual can fix that.