Wearing the appropriate safety gear for the job and practicing safe work habits will prevent many injuries, but you can help ensure your safety by building it right into the shop.
Ease of Access: Making it easy to move materials is one way to eliminate accidents. Design doorways at least 36 inches wide. If you have space for them, mount double doors 72 inches wide.
Codes generally require that stair ways have treads at least 10 inches wide and risers no more than 8¼” inches high. Apply nonskid tape or corrugated rubber pads to the treads and paint the nosings—the front edges of the treads—yellow. Attach a sturdy handrail along one side.
Make sure the shop floor is durable, skid-proof, and easy to clean. Keep it free of obstructions. If you install an electrical raceway to a floor outlet, paint it with black and yellow stripes so it is clearly visible.
Electrical Safety: Your workshop will need a safe and adequate supply of electricity. To pre vent unauthorized use of power tools, consider installing a lockable service panel and switch plates, or disabling the plugs of power tools (opposite). To meet your lighting requirements, supplement natural light from windows with overhead fluorescent fixtures, and install clamp-on desk lights for localized lighting. Shield all lamps with metal mesh.
Invisible Hazards: Although seemingly innocuous by-products of shop activity, dust and noise pose a serious health threat. Proper shop ventilation is essential. Wherever possible, sheathe the shop with materials that muffle sound and mount power tools on rubber pads. Minimize the disturbance to others with soundproofing.
Safe Storage: Place racks and shelves so they are accessible but out of the way. Lock up potentially dangerous tools, and store flammable liquids in locked metal cabinets. Dispose of debris in metal trash cans with lids, and empty them frequently.
Keep a first-aid kit in a handy location. Stock it with basic supplies such as gauze, tape, scissors, bandages, disinfectant, antiseptic cream, tweezers, and an eye-wash solution—and check it frequently to re stock depleted items.
Reducing the Threat of Fire:
Most workshops contain potential fire hazards, but there are a number of actions you can take to minimize their dangers.
Store volatile chemicals in a locked metal cabinet. After using rags to apply solvents or finishes, hang the rags up outdoors to dry before storing or discarding them. Dispose of sawdust at least once everyday. A properly mounted smoke detector, will give you an early warning of fire; install an ionization-type de vice, which is less likely to give off a false alarm when exposed to workshop dust. Keep an ABC type fire extinguisher—effective against wood, grease, and electrical fires—near every shop exit.
Designing a workshop for safety. This workshop incorporates
many of the safety features described opposite. In addition, the walls are
sheathed with fire-retardant wallboard covered with fire-resistant latex
paint in a light shade to brighten the shop and improve visibility. On the
ceiling, acoustic tiles dampen noise levels.
Electrical power is available at outlets in many different areas, eliminating the need for extension cords. At the workbench, a rubber mat helps mitigate the fatigue that can result from standing on a concrete floor for long periods. Safety goggles, a face shield, and respiratory and hearing protectors are within easy reach.
Tricks of the Trade: Disabling a Power Tool:
To prevent unauthorized use of power tools, slip the bolt of a mini-padlock through one of the tines in the power cord plug—making it impossible to plug in the tool. Store the padlock key out of reach in a lockable drawer or cupboard.
Next: Keeping a Basement
Workshop Dry
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