Woodworking is an effective means of expanding a handyman business. By possessing carpentry skills or being open to acquiring them, offering woodworking services can aid in attracting fresh clientele or fostering loyalty among existing customers.
If you offer woodworking as a service, like any other service you provide, it can bring about new risks for your handyman business that you must handle. To ensure safety when adding woodworking to your list of services, you can consider updating your current handyman risk management plan. Here are ten tips related to woodworking safety that you might want to take into account:
1. Wear safety equipment
When engaging in woodworking, there are various ways in which it can pose dangers. Your hearing might be negatively impacted by the loud power tools, while debris may enter your eyes. Additionally, your skin could be irritated by stains and varnishes. To prevent harm and maintain your well-being, it is advisable to consistently wear suitable safety gear while working. Take into account the following considerations:
- Safety glasses or goggles
- Earplugs
- Work and latex gloves
- Face masks
- Steel-toed boots
2. Wear appropriate clothing
In order to prevent accidents, it is advisable to wear fitted clothing appropriate for woodworking, as loose and baggy attire may be caught on saw blades and other power tools. Furthermore, it is crucial to remove any dangling scarves or jewelry before commencing work, as these items can also become entangled in the tools.
3. Avoid distractions
It is essential to give your complete attention to power tools. Any distraction, whether it’s engaging in conversation or listening to music, can lead to injury or property damage while using tools like saws, nail guns, or drills. Prioritize staying focused on the task at hand and only shift your attention away once you have completed it or reached a safe stopping point.
4. Avoid alcohol and drugs
When you are woodworking (or doing any handyman project), it is important to be aware that alcohol and drugs can hinder your reaction time and ability to concentrate on your work, which can impose risks. It is advisable to abstain from alcohol while working and carefully peruse the cautions on prescription and over-the-counter medications. It might be necessary to take a break until complete recovery instead of risking impaired work.
5. Keep your tools contained
If you often need to switch tools for a project, you may be tempted to avoid putting them away so that you can easily access them whenever necessary. Nonetheless, this could potentially cause a safety concern for yourself, your customers, or anyone in close proximity. By keeping your tools in a toolbox or organizing them in one designated area, you could minimize the risk of accidents such as falls, cuts, and other potential hazards.
6. Disconnect power to tools when not in use
Failing to unplug tools when not in use may result in accidents or injuries. It is important to consider that others may have access to your tools, especially when working at a client’s residence. To avoid any unexpected activation, it is advisable to disconnect power tools when they are not being used.
7. Use a single extension cord
Using a separate extension cord for each tool may be convenient, but it also poses a potential hazard. By transitioning to a single cord for all tools, it not only strengthens the practice of disconnecting tools when not in use (as mentioned in the previous tip), but it also reduces the likelihood of tripping and falling over numerous items in your workspace.
8. Use sharp blades and bits
Dull blades and bits have the potential to be unsafe as they can make your tools exert more effort and raise the risk of kickback or binding. On the other hand, sharp blades and bits enable cleaner, more accurate cuts that are beneficial for both you and your customers.
9. Check for nails, screws, and other metal
To avoid injuries caused by kickback or flying metal, as well as prevent damage to your tools, it is important to check wood for old nails, screws, or other pieces of stray metal before cutting, as spinning blades and metal are not compatible.
10. Have appropriate business insurance
Accidents may still occur despite having a thorough handyman risk management plan. Business insurance, such as General Liability coverage, can assist in safeguarding against costly claims for injury or property damage filed by a customer or another external party.
11. Take a training course
The more you engage in woodworking, the more your skills will improve, just like any other creative pursuit. Additionally, it is important to recognize the significance of acquiring knowledge in woodworking as it contributes to ensuring your safety. Since you have invested a substantial amount in tools, it is worth considering investing in your knowledge as well. Enrolling in a training course could be a wise decision as it can potentially provide a secure avenue to invest your time and money.
12. Use well maintained tools
Routine tool maintenance is part of the process and serves as another indication of a skilled woodworker. Protecting your tool collection, in which you have made a significant investment, becomes important alongside this.
By utilizing well-maintained tools, you will obtain numerous advantages. Not only do they outlast and perform better than worn-out equipment, but they also contribute to safety, which is a crucial aspect of your woodworking plan. Employing well-maintained tools assists you in fulfilling this objective.
13. Clean up sawdust
Maintaining a clean woodworking shop is a crucial aspect of being a skilled wood smith since a tidy shop ensures safety, whereas a disorganized and dirty shop poses hazards.
Sawdust, a byproduct that is bound to occur in woodworking shops, need not remain scattered and pose a safety risk. It can cause accidents, obstruct vision, and be inhaled. However, these occurrences can be prevented by consistently cleaning up sawdust.
14. Keep the blade over on saws whenever possible
Manufacturer-supplied covers are provided for most bladed power tools to ensure safety. It is crucial to keep the blade covers on to allow them to function properly. If you need to remove a blade cover, ensure that you do it in a safe manner. De-energize your tool and keep the blade cover off only for the required duration. Afterward, replace the cover before resuming work.
15. Do not try to free a stalled blade until the power is off
If you engage in a significant amount of woodworking, it is likely that you will encounter situations where the blade gets stuck. In fact, beginners are more susceptible to blade stalls compared to experienced individuals. This is due to the fact that seasoned woodworkers possess the knowledge and techniques to prevent blade stalls.
Another important lesson known by experienced woodworkers is to never attempt to release a stuck blade without turning off the power first. This is a fundamental rule to follow, as powered tools can unexpectedly activate and cause severe injuries. Prior to freeing a stuck blade, always ensure that there is no power supply to the tool.
16. Use push sticks or pads when using a table saw, jointer, bandsaw, router table or sharpener
Push sticks and pads serve to protect your fingers and hands while operating a table saw, bandsaw, router table or sharpener. It is hazardous to have your fingers in close proximity to rotating blades, bands, and wheels, and it is also avoidable.
In order to ensure safety in the woodworking shop, it is important to make a commitment and utilize a push pad or stick when operating a cutting tool in close proximity. These tools do not have to be extravagant or pricey, yet they are vital.
17. Ask for help when you need it
When working with a heavy or bulky piece, it is important to remember this workshop tip in order to prevent serious harm. You should not attempt to handle it alone, as there is no shame in seeking assistance.
If you attempt to complete tasks that exceed your physical capabilities, it is hazardous. Consequently, you may experience severe injuries, such as accidentally coming into contact with a rotating blade or straining your muscles resulting in back pain. However, you can prevent these occurrences by simply seeking assistance whenever necessary.
18. Never work when you’re tired
When you are tired, it is considered as a different type of impairment. Tiredness has the ability to restrict both your attention span and your powers of observation. Similarly to alcohol and drug use, fatigue and drowsiness hinder your judgment and slow down your thought processes.
If you are feeling tired or lacking energy, reconsider going to work in your shop by thinking step by step. Question whether it is truly essential to perform your task at that moment. It might be better to take a nap or postpone your project until you have had a restful night’s sleep.
19. Clamp workpieces down firmly
Woodworking materials that are not secure pose a significant risk. If you do not have proper control over the piece, it can be propelled off the saw table or workbench, transforming into a hazard within the workshop that can potentially harm anyone in its path.
To ensure secure fastening, always firmly secure workpieces. While hand pressure may be enough for small pieces, it is important to utilize a mechanical restraint for larger components. Numerous forms of clamps are readily accessible, providing the opportunity for creative usage.
20. Take time to read the tool manual before using a new tool
You are aware of the saying regarding the importance of reading instructions, aren’t you? Consider the most recent occasion when you consulted the manual of a newly purchased or adopted tool. Did you read and comprehend it carefully?
Manufacturers put in a lot of effort to create owner manuals as they aim for you to fully enjoy the advantages of your purchase and ensure your safety. It is important to take the time to carefully read the manual for any new tool, as it contains a wealth of safety information.
21. Work against the cutter
Working against the cutter is a well-known practice among most skilled woodworkers, whereby they bring the work to the cutting tool whenever feasible. Instead of forcing the work onto the surface, it is safer to feed it against a stationary blade. By working against the cutter, the risk of hazardous kickback is significantly reduced.
Many novice woodworkers and occasional hobbyists are unaware of this crucial safety advice, which is to work against the cutter. This is because they have never been taught to do so, and it is not an intuitive or obvious practice. Therefore, when you find yourself in your workshop again, remember to always work against your cutting tools.
22. Avoid wearing jewelry
Woodworking shops are not suitable for hanging chains or dangling pendants due to the high risk of them getting caught in the rotating blades or belts. It is extremely dangerous to have a neck chain or lanyard caught in a mandrel, as it can potentially be a life-threatening situation.
If you have a special piece of jewelry, ensure that you safeguard it from tools. Conceal chains and lanyards. Additionally, evaluate whether the watch or ring you are currently wearing could pose a danger in your workshop. If you have any uncertainty, remove it and place it in your pocket.
23. Check wood for nails
Reclaimed wood is in great demand as people are attracted to the appearance and texture of weathered wood. However, for woodworkers, working with old wood can be risky due to the potential presence of nails left by previous woodworkers.
Before using wood, ensure to check for nails or other fasteners. Visual inspections are sufficient and you can likely detect embedded nails by observing holes. However, if you frequently work with reclaimed wood, it is advisable to use a metal detector. Regardless of your method, make sure to identify old nails beforehand to prevent damage to saw blades or potential injuries.
