Spinning blades, loud machines and fine dust in the air.
Woodworking is satisfying, absorbing work with your hands. The shop holds real hazards. Saws and routers can take a finger in an instant, machines are loud enough to damage hearing, and fine wood dust irritates the lungs and is linked to some cancers.
Table saws, routers and jointers cause serious cuts and fingertip amputations, often when a hand gets too close to the blade or the work kicks back. Blade guards, push sticks and unhurried work are the main defenses. Gloves can catch in spinning blades, so skip them at the saw.
No daily practice fixes this one. Follow the steps described here.
Sanding and sawing throw fine dust into the air. Breathing it can irritate your nose and lungs, trigger asthma and allergies, and some hardwood dusts are linked to nasal cancer.
Planers, routers and saws often run well above 85 decibels, the level where long exposure damages hearing. The damage is permanent and builds without pain.
Flying chips, splinters and dust can scratch the eye or lodge in it. Regular glasses are not safety glasses.
Moving sheet goods, lumber and heavy machines with a bent back strains the lower back. Long hours standing at a bench add to it.
Get emergency care for a deep cut or any fingertip injury, and for anything stuck in your eye. See a doctor for a lasting cough, wheeze or nosebleeds in the shop, or ringing in your ears after work.