The Ultimate Shop Safety Thread

[FigureItOut]

This thread is probably always worth a bump.

My contribution: Maybe not critical, but watch your eyes around insulation. I've got a very uncomfortable scratched cornea to remind me that injuries aren't always catastrophic, and to watch the little stuff also.

It's foam gasket safety glasses in attics from now on. I do not want to repeat this experience.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[maxpower_hd]

Flash arrestors on your torch lines. I have them on both ends now. I can tell you first hand it is scary when flames shoot out of the tank at the regulator!

I do have to ask though, why no small bottles with medium sized torches? As far as I knew the only difference was the volume of gas you have to work with. I see small torch set ups all the time.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Close the parts washer lid -- sparks flying around the shop from grinding / cutting / welding WILL undoubtedly find their way in and set it afire....the time that the washer sat smoking doing a slow burn for about an hour after I slammed the lid in a panic trying to snuff out the flames finally got it to sink in to my head to close is immediately after using it.

 

[Rag Roc]

If you need to check hole alignment use a tapered punch, NOT your finger.

Grind off split or mushroomed ends of tools, so these small pieces don't fly off.

 

[dar24601]

Think this thread deserves a bump. I'm don't have a shop just do regular homeowner jobs. Here some lessons I've learned the hard way.

- TAKE YOUR TIME!!! "Hurry leads to Hurt"
- No matter what it is your doing, PAY ATTENTION to what you are doing.
- when changing drill bits, saw blades, on power tools disconnect the cord/battery while doing so cause fingers have way of sneaking onto the trigger.
- "A man's got to know his limitations". Never tackle a job that you don't feel 100% confident doing

 

[btdobie]

- when changing drill bits, saw blades, on power tools disconnect the cord/battery while doing so cause fingers have way of sneaking onto the trigger.

X2 my boss's son got a bunch of stitches in his hand because he hit the trigger on a drill while he had the key in the Chuck. It came around and sliced his hand right open.

 

[dar24601]

X2 my boss's son got a bunch of stitches in his hand because he hit the trigger on a drill while he had the key in the Chuck. It came around and sliced his hand right open.

Ouch! I was lucky I was putting a #2 bit just ripped some skin from my finger

 

[vettex2]

Three legs vs four. Four is inherently more stable.

The ratcheting c-man kind despite country of origin use a cast cast steel post and the ratchet pawl is designed in a way that even if the pin slipped out some way the pawl would still be wedged in. The posts are not pot-metal. Bear in mind that despite country of origin, to be legally sold in the US; jacks and stands have to meet established design and safety criteria.

The post is solid cast steel vs cold extruded steel tube. The frames are heavy steel vs thin almost sheetmetal.

The plate on the top that the weight rests on can bend and deflect (again due to thin sheetmetal vs a cast piece.

--

Really, it should be pretty clear visually. I'm 30 and I've never used the old style tripod ones for anything other than leveling the back of a camper. They just plain look unsafe imho.

horsescat
used properly they are fine
I have 2 sets that are older than you.

 

[RobSmith]

I have read the whole post. Lots of good tips on safety. It also seems there is a significant lack of common sense. Thinking about your situation and the result of your actions is not a hard task. Do that.
I have worked on my own for most of my life in very dangerous situations. Just sit back and think for a minute... asses your situation. This sounds like a **** but a simple "plan" results in a successful end.

 

[teamextreme]

Nobody has mentioned air nailers, so I'll pass on what I learned the very hard way after putting a 16p nail through my finger last summer.
NEVER point the gun back at yourself to nail something.
Keep your free hand well away from the nailer. There are often times you have to hold something in place. After my experience, I won't do this anymore and will use a clamp or other block of wood, or shim to hold the piece being nailed instead of my hand.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, I won't use the bump-fire mode on my nailer. I know it's much faster, but when it recoils and fires a second nail, it sometimes doesn't go where you want it.

 

[Eslader]

Most likely 1 out of the 4 is not loaded. Place 2 under the suspension or shim that 4rth stand.

Which we'd catch if we'd follow the other good piece of jack stand advice - once the car is lifted and on stands, shake the hell out of it. Try to knock it off the stands before you take anything off or get under it. Better it fall off the stands while you're standing next to it than when you're under it.

 

[vettex2]

Nobody has mentioned air nailers, so I'll pass on what I learned the very hard way after putting a 16p nail through my finger last summer.
NEVER point the gun back at yourself to nail something.
Keep your free hand well away from the nailer. There are often times you have to hold something in place. After my experience, I won't do this anymore and will use a clamp or other block of wood, or shim to hold the piece being nailed instead of my hand.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, I won't use the bump-fire mode on my nailer. I know it's much faster, but when it recoils and fires a second nail, it sometimes doesn't go where you want it.

Some things are just common sense.

 

[IdahoMan]

..and use hearing protection but having worked 43.5 years I suffer from tinnitus. I hear "crickets" during awake hours.

Even after using hearing protection all that time?

The reason I decided against trying to learn to weld because I figured I'd end up in glasses even if strictly using a welding helmet.