INTRODUCTION

Hand tools and power-driven machine tools have been developed to save time and perform accurate, repeatable work. Hand and power tools consistently perform the same operation hundreds of times if they are properly used, cared for, and understood. In nearly all cases, mistakes and/or injuries are due to operator error, not the machine. Whether the tools are helpful or harmful depends on you.

A study made by the National Safety Council on school lab accidents show that more accidents happen Saturday before noon than any other time and day of the week, except days just before or following vacations. Of course, this does not mean you can relax your safety habits during other days. In addition, the most dangerous school lab is the wood lab. In the wood lab, the tools that are involved in most accidents are listed below (the most dangerous in each category is listed first):

HAND TOOLS

1.Chisels

2.Saws

3.Knives

4.Planes

5.Hammers

POWER TOOLS

1.Shaper (we do not have a Shaper)

2.Table Saw

3.Jointer

4.Radial Arm Saw

5.Wood Lathe

6.Miter Saw

7.Grinder

8.Sander (Disc)

9.Band Saw

10.Jig Saw

11.Drill Press

12.Planer

GENERAL CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

1.Ignorance

2.Carelessness

3.Lack of judgment

4.Rushing a job

5.Making too heavy a cut

6.Overconfidence

7.Talking while working

8.Inadequately guarded machine 17. Using unsafe material (with checks, knots,

9. Using a dull tool etc.)

10. Improperly set or adjusted tool 18. Eyestrain

11. Fatigue

12.Using the wrong material

13.Absent-mindedness

14.Working in a disorderly lab

15.Improper position of feet and body during operation

16.Improper clothing

SPECIFIC CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

1.Startling a person while he or she is working at a machine

2.Crowding or hurrying a person at a machine

3.Failing to stop machinery for adjustments

4.Not replacing a guard after it has been removed

5.Moving or dropping fingers into moving parts of cutters

6.Failing to stop machinery for measurements

7.Students not starting and stopping their own machines

8.Operating machinery without receiving instruction on its proper use

9.Operating machinery while the instructor is out of the room

10.Showing off while operating machinery

11.Using the wrong machine for a given procedure