A workshop full of tools can be a dangerous place. The following equipment can help you prevent injury -- or respond to an injury properly.
Keep a first-aid kit in an easy-to-reach place. Kits range from smaller, basic units (figure A) to well-stocked medicine chests (figure B). Make sure your kit includes these necessities: bandages, needles, tweezers, antiseptic ointment, cotton swabs, cotton balls, eyedrops, a first-aid handbook, a chemical cold pack, an elastic bandage, first-aid tape and sterile gauze.
Protective eyewear is important for both the worker and the bystander (figure C). Many kinds of goggles, offering various levels of protection, are available.
Face masks and respirators protect your lungs from hazardous fumes and vapors. These range from a simple cloth mask (figure D) to a dual-cartridge respirator (figure E). Correct use of a respirator can prevent lung irritation and disease.
Gloves offer different levels of protection. Leather and cotton gloves are good for protecting from splinters and blisters (figure F). Rubber gloves can protect hands from dangerous substances such as acid (figure G).
Knee pads protect the tops and bottoms of your knees when you're working on a project that's close to the ground (figure H).
Back braces support your back when you lift heavy objects (figure I).
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