Popular Woodworking 2006-04 № 154, страница 68

Of course, the most effective protection against particles is still a pair of goggles rather than glasses. Goggle designs have changed some, but to balance fashion, comfort and protection you should look to a goggle-like pair of safety glasses such as the Maxim 2x2 from Aearo.

Specialty doesn't end with the lenses or frames. How about working in the dark? We've all climbed under our dusty table saw to try to fix (or find) something. Why not wear safety glasses that will not only keep dust from falling in our eyes, but also help put some light on the project? Safety glasses are now available with built-in LED lights that are remarkably bright. The lights can be adjusted to shine exactly where you're looking, regardless of the position of your head. Very handy!

And if you hadn't already decided the cool-looking shades at the beginning of the article looked good enough to buy, pay attention to the interchangeable lenses. One pair of glasses can be used for indoor, outdoor or just for fun by simply changing out the lenses. Now that's special.

Conclusion

It's hard to put a price on safety, but that's what we're going to do here. Your vision is an important part of your woodworking experience. Protecting your eyes should be as basic a response as making sure the guard is on your jointer and that the bit is tightly chucked in the router.

For less than $15 you can protect your eyes with space-age technology good enough to protect our armed forces. Add comfort that continues to improve and there's no excuse to not be safe. And if you need to be fashionable, spend a few dollars more and put away your expensive Ray-Bans for a special occasion. PW

THE ESSENCE OF WORKSHOP SAFETY

" Let's take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand and follow all the instructions that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your tools safely will greatly reduce the risk of injury. And remember - there's no more important safety rule than to wear these: safety glasses."

This is how Norm Abram starts out his "New Yankee Workshop" shows. He is correct that safety glasses are important to eye safety. But personal safety equipment, such as glasses, hearing protection and breathing protection are not the be-all and end-all provider of safety. These items are the last line of defense, not the first. Safety glasses, in combination with guarding of woodworking equipment and reasonable care, form a three-part system to protect your eyes.

Eye safety begins with defining your space and determining to what hazards you may be exposed. Next, determine their sources. Once that's done, all reasonable means should be employed to contain the hazard right there. For example, a spray of sawdust, splinters, knots and even chunks of wood may come off a running table saw blade. It's reasonable to direct this spray downward and away from the operator with a guard. Essentially, the guard confines this hazard, denying you access to the danger zone. This reduces exposure to the hazard and reduces the likelihood of injury. If something escapes the guard, the glasses are there for further protection.

The notion that safety glasses represent the last line of defense is not a new one. As early as 1959, the National Safety Council stated:

"A machine so designed, for instance, that it effectively confines flying particles eliminates a cause of accidents. This is a more basic treatment of the problem than the use of goggles designed to prevent injury, for confinement stops particles at their source.

"Only when engineering revision and guarding have been considered and found impractical should dependence be placed upon personal protective equipment."

Industry has long been aware of the systematic approach to hazard control. The highest order of hazard control is achieved when the hazard is eliminated. Designing the hazard out of the equipment or workplace will result in the highest order of protection. If a hazard cannot be designed out, the next order of protection is to guard against the hazard. A table saw must be capable of cutting;

therefore one cannot design out the cutting action. Thus, the hazard must be guarded. In the event that guarding is not feasible, warnings are provided so that the user has the information needed to use the product safely and to avoid the hazard. One cannot guard a hammer or design out the hazard. Therefore, you will find the following safety instruction label adhered to a hammer:

WARNING PROTECT YOUR EYES WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES "Use this tool to drive or pull common nails only. This tool may chip if struck against a similar tool, hardened nails, or other hardened surfaces, resulting in not only damage to this tool but possibly cause eye or other bodily injury."

Warnings and safety instructions represent the third order of hazard control. Warnings provide people with the information needed to avoid hazards. This warning points out the proper use of the hammer and instructs people how to avoid hazards. This information is needed so that people can be trained in the proper use of a hammer. This warning also instructs people to wear personal protective equipment - safety goggles.

The following list represents an effective hierarchy of hazard control:

1. Hazard Elimination

2. Safety Guards and Enclosures

3. Warnings and Safety Instructions

4. Personal Protective Equipment

5. Training and Supervision

Now that we've established the order of protection, it is essential that we adhere to that specific order. The highest order of protection must always be provided. From a safety point of view, it is not acceptable to rely upon a lower order of protection when a higher order is available. This makes a lot of sense from a practical point of view. You may not always be able to exercise complete control over your workplace. A family member, friend or co-worker may decide to use your shop when you are not around. And that person may have forgotten his safety glasses. That is why you need to ensure that your table saw is guarded and that the saw and guard are well maintained. A warning or training program can never be an acceptable substitute for a guard. Remember, guards not only protect people from physical hazards, they protect us from human error caused by distraction, fatigue, etc.

Finally, as mentioned above, maintenance is important in any safety program. Keep those machines and guards in good working order!

Harry Ehrlich, Industrial Engineer Les Winter, Professional Engineer Robson Forensic Incorporated

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