When I first told my friends and coworkers that I was taking a carpentry class at Canadore College, my decision was met with a lot of support. Besides the well wishes, the next most common response was “watch your fingers”.
The comment really got me thinking: is this something that I should really be concerned about? So I did some research. Here’s what I found out:
- +124,000 Americans visit the emergency room due to an injury from power tools
- Injuries from chain saws result in 36,000 emergency visits per year
- 40% of all nail gun injuries (one of the most common power tool injuries) occurred to DIYers
Based on the information above, I think it’s important that prior to using power tools, you do the following:
Be Protected
Wear proper PPE when using power tools (i.e. hearing protection, head protection, foot protection, leg protection)
Be Qualified
Only use a power tool if you are familiar with how to safely do so. If you are not, consult the manufacturer’s directives, or seek help from a professional.
Be Smart
Never remove or by pass safety guards when using power tools. Pay attention to what you are doing and be alert to moving parts and their paths.
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