Tools, Equipment and Workshop Safety
Hand tools and their use
Know the purpose of marking-out tools (try square, marking gauge, scriber, centre punch), cutting tools (tenon saw, coping saw, hacksaw, chisels, files), and shaping tools (planes, rasps, abrasive papers). Match the tool to the material: a hacksaw for metal, a tenon saw for timber, a junior hacksaw for small tube. A frequent trap is naming a tool that would damage the work, such as using a wood chisel on metal.
Powered equipment
Understand the safe use of a pillar drill, band saw, scroll saw, disc sander and lathe. Guards must be in place; the work must be clamped, not held by hand; correct speeds and feeds must be selected; loose clothing and jewellery must be removed and long hair tied back.
Safety rules and risk assessment
Learn the hierarchy: eliminate the hazard, then guard it, then use personal protective equipment (goggles, apron, dust mask, ear defenders) as the last line of defence. Know workshop rules: no running, report damage, keep aisles clear, use a brush not compressed air for dust, and never leave a machine running unattended. A risk assessment states the hazard, who is at risk, the likelihood and severity, and the control measure.
Worked example: drilling a hole
Hazard: the bit may snag and spin the workpiece. Controls: clamp the work to the drill table, select the correct speed for the material, wear goggles, remove the chuck key before starting, and keep hands clear. Notice that goggles protect the operator but do not stop the workpiece spinning, so clamping is the primary control.
Rule of thumb
PPE protects the person, not the process. Fix the process first.