Safety first.
- Thread starter johnfr
- Start date
zkdiesel
Well-known member
Water fire extinguishers(2). Handy for small fires without mess of chemical or trying to get the hose
Proper welding attire and welding blankets are items less though of often. Consider both safety items
Proper welding attire and welding blankets are items less though of often. Consider both safety items
Fire extinguisher next to each point of egress. A lot of people place it next to where they think a fire will occur, but that's exactly the place you'll be trying to escape if a fire does break out. No batteries ever get left charging overnight. They charge while I'm there ONLY.
Safety glasses on or near every piece of equipment that requires a pair (grinder stand, table saw, miter saw, etc.). I throw out or polish the lenses on them when they get scratched. I don't want to be tempted to work without them "just this once" if they're hazy or hard to see through. A headlight polishing buff and a bottle of Meguiar's compound (forget which one) does a good job on them. If the scratches are deep, they get tossed. I keep a couple still in the blister packs as replacements.
Nitrile gloves plus a good set of snug-fitting work gloves (like Mechanix or equivalent). I have a bunch of the loose old cowhide work gloves but I hate wearing them and only do it when I'm pretty sure I'll ruin a set of gloves. Loose gloves get caught on stuff.
Box full of dust masks (I buy them in 20-packs). Wood dust and I don't get along.
Hearing protection. I have 5 pairs of earmuffs. I usually put a pair on when I go into the shop to keep me from having to hear the compressor run. I'm at the point where I won't do any loud job without earmuffs, no matter how short. I won't even cut a single 2x4 on the miter saw. After years of working on stuff, loud sounds just annoy the hell out of me anymore.
Full face shield hanging near the grinders.
I don't have a first aid kit in the garage, because if I do something where I need the first aid kit, I also need to go in the house and wash out the cut or whatever. I do keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol with a pump sprayer head on it for cleaning up circuit boards, and if I cut myself and can't get to a sink right away, I'll give the open cut a shot. Yeah, it stings, but it goes away pretty fast.
Floor squeegee. I hate slipping on antifreeze, and in a shop, a slip could land you on something sharp or moving. Another pet peeve is having sawdust or wood cutoffs underfoot, especially when running the table saw. I sweep up the sawdust and keep some to soak up spills.
Take the garbage out frequently. I never leave any paper towels in the shop if they've been soaked in oil, alcohol, brake cleaner, etc. The garbage gets taken out every time I'm in the shop. Garbage bags are cheap, garages aren't.
Many, many razor and utility knife blades. I change them out the second they get dull. Blades too dull to cut cardboard are more than sharp enough to cut skin.
JACKSTANDS. NEVER trust a jack. Also wood cribbing, because sometimes you shouldn't trust jackstands, either.
Safety glasses on or near every piece of equipment that requires a pair (grinder stand, table saw, miter saw, etc.). I throw out or polish the lenses on them when they get scratched. I don't want to be tempted to work without them "just this once" if they're hazy or hard to see through. A headlight polishing buff and a bottle of Meguiar's compound (forget which one) does a good job on them. If the scratches are deep, they get tossed. I keep a couple still in the blister packs as replacements.
Nitrile gloves plus a good set of snug-fitting work gloves (like Mechanix or equivalent). I have a bunch of the loose old cowhide work gloves but I hate wearing them and only do it when I'm pretty sure I'll ruin a set of gloves. Loose gloves get caught on stuff.
Box full of dust masks (I buy them in 20-packs). Wood dust and I don't get along.
Hearing protection. I have 5 pairs of earmuffs. I usually put a pair on when I go into the shop to keep me from having to hear the compressor run. I'm at the point where I won't do any loud job without earmuffs, no matter how short. I won't even cut a single 2x4 on the miter saw. After years of working on stuff, loud sounds just annoy the hell out of me anymore.
Full face shield hanging near the grinders.
I don't have a first aid kit in the garage, because if I do something where I need the first aid kit, I also need to go in the house and wash out the cut or whatever. I do keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol with a pump sprayer head on it for cleaning up circuit boards, and if I cut myself and can't get to a sink right away, I'll give the open cut a shot. Yeah, it stings, but it goes away pretty fast.
Floor squeegee. I hate slipping on antifreeze, and in a shop, a slip could land you on something sharp or moving. Another pet peeve is having sawdust or wood cutoffs underfoot, especially when running the table saw. I sweep up the sawdust and keep some to soak up spills.
Take the garbage out frequently. I never leave any paper towels in the shop if they've been soaked in oil, alcohol, brake cleaner, etc. The garbage gets taken out every time I'm in the shop. Garbage bags are cheap, garages aren't.
Many, many razor and utility knife blades. I change them out the second they get dull. Blades too dull to cut cardboard are more than sharp enough to cut skin.
JACKSTANDS. NEVER trust a jack. Also wood cribbing, because sometimes you shouldn't trust jackstands, either.
wrench409
Well-known member
bczygan
Well-known member
2 ABC
1 First Aid Kit
1 First Aid Kit
matt_i
Well-known member
I keep all my rigging supplies in top shape. No holes drilled in the forklift fork tips. All gas bottles are restrained from falling over.
Cyberbear
Well-known member
Fire extinguisher at exit doors, full face shield masks, and a bottle of nitroglycerin pills in my pocket, and an automatic pistol for everything else.
Kaizen
Well-known member
I got a little kit at the drug store that has some vials of saline solution in them and a rubber eye cup. you fill the cup bend over stick it over the eye in question. lean back like gargling and open the eye moving it around. works great for rust and stuff that blows in there.
Kaizen
Well-known member
In my garage which is my woodshop I have a bag on the bottom shelf of my medical cabinet with a zip loc bag, a few paper towels, and an ice pack. I am normally alone so I figure I can pick up the missing fingers, into the bag, 911, get to the driveway, activate coldpack around fingers, pass out
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I have an ABC extinguisher for any REAL fires. I have an air rechargeable water extinguisher for preventative measures and small flair ups next to where I might be working. For example: cutting out in the driveway I may set some leave or grass ablaze a little. So I wet it down first then put out whatever still catches.
I don't have a first aid "kit" but I have a roll of gauze, some electrical tape and some super glue for emergencies. Along with rubbing alcohol which I use for other things as well.
There is a fridge with some whiskey and beer for pain management. Plenty of twine, rope, rags, etc and readily available knives in the event I need to fashion a tourniquet.
In the same tool drawer as the knives there are several different kinds of tweezers for desplintering and some picks.
I have some of the other things mentioned but those aren't what I would call emergency equipment as much as they are safety equipment for prevention. Like safety glasses, face shields, welding jacket, welding blanket, etc.
I don't have a first aid "kit" but I have a roll of gauze, some electrical tape and some super glue for emergencies. Along with rubbing alcohol which I use for other things as well.
There is a fridge with some whiskey and beer for pain management. Plenty of twine, rope, rags, etc and readily available knives in the event I need to fashion a tourniquet.
In the same tool drawer as the knives there are several different kinds of tweezers for desplintering and some picks.
I have some of the other things mentioned but those aren't what I would call emergency equipment as much as they are safety equipment for prevention. Like safety glasses, face shields, welding jacket, welding blanket, etc.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
I have two fire extinguishers, big one by the roll up doors and small one by man door, I have hearing protection and eye protection on the bench. And my big first aid kit from my ambulance days all in the garage.
619DioFan
Well-known member
No garage but have a large shed that holds the tools and a large covered carport to work in. have an abc fire extinguisher on hand plus a well stocked first aid kit. always wear long sleeves and long pants when welding , cutting and grinding. always wear gloves as well as safety glasses and a face shield ( had a close call once when a metal sliver got past the safety glasses and stuck my face near my eye so started using the face shield on top of the glasses ) also wear hearing protection when running power tools. have a welding blanket on hand for spark control. always keep the work area clear from trip hazards.
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I do always wear long pants, long sleeves, boots and at least one glove when welding. But I have to admit, at the home shop I do have a pair of welding slippers. I've also sunburned my arms because I've been a little too eager to finish something to put on the welding jacket at 90 degrees.