Boatbuilding Safety

Being familiar with the materials that you will use and the hazards they present is the first step to a safe job. Find out of any health risks associated with your materials, and make sure you understand the safe use of all your tools. Boatbuilding can be a dangerous occupation if it's not approached with the right attitude and amount of caution. None of the materials or steps are particularly dangerous, but carelessness working with tools or materials can cause injury. It is important to listen to your " inner voice "; if something you are about to do doesn't feel safe to you, it probably isn't. STOP AND THINK before proceeding.
There are several general risks associated with woodworking and boatbuilding. First are the obvious hazards of working with cutting tools. Be aware not only of what YOU are working on, but also the people around you. Using the proper tool for the job at hand is also very important, as is making sure that it is sharp and in good working condition. A sharp tool is less likely to cut you than a dull one, because of the extra force that has to be used with a dull one. If you use power tools, take extra care. They can do a lot of damage in a short time.
Respiratory and chemical risks should be of special concern to you. Wearing the proper dust mask and eye protection goes a long way toward reducing the risk from airborne particles, and should become second nature. Reducing the sources of dust is an easy way to reduce the risk; use cutting operations like planing and chiseling instead of sanding and grinding, and be careful when stirring powdered fillers into Epoxy resin.
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