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.