Need woodwork safety posters you can actually use? This free pack contains six printable workshop reminders for general shop safety, machine guarding, personal protection, dust control, table saw awareness and rotating-machinery entanglement hazards.
- Use the right tool and accessory for the job.
- Inspect the machine, guards and safety devices before use.
- Keep the work area clear, stable and well lit.
- Secure loose clothing, jewelry and long hair before approaching moving machinery.
- Know how to stop the machine before you start it.
- Do not operate equipment you are not trained or authorized to use.
- Never operate a machine with a required guard or safety device missing, damaged or defeated.
- Keep hands away from blades, cutters and other points of operation.
- Do not reach into moving equipment to remove waste or offcuts.
- Wait for blades and cutters to stop completely before approaching them.
- If a guard interferes with the intended operation, use the manufacturer-approved setup or procedure.
- Wear appropriate eye or face protection when there is a flying-particle hazard.
- Use hearing protection when noise exposure requires it.
- Control wood dust at the source whenever practical.
- Use respiratory protection only when appropriate for the hazard and according to applicable guidance.
- Keep dust collection and ventilation systems maintained and unobstructed.
- Stop the machine and wait for all motion to cease.
- Before blade, bit or cutter changes, disconnect or isolate energy as directed by the manufacturer.
- For workplace servicing and maintenance, follow required lockout/tagout procedures.
- Never clean, adjust or service a machine while hazardous motion can occur.
- Restore guards and safety devices before returning equipment to service.
- Use the correct blade and setup for the intended operation.
- Keep the manufacturer-provided guarding and anti-kickback safety equipment in working order when required for the cut.
- Support the workpiece so it remains controlled throughout the cut.
- Keep hands away from the blade path and point of operation.
- Do not reach toward the blade until it has stopped completely.
- Control dust with appropriate collection and ventilation.
- Secure long hair and remove dangling jewelry.
- Avoid loose sleeves, drawstrings and clothing that can become entangled.
- Do not wear gloves where they can be caught by rotating machinery; follow task-specific PPE guidance.
- Keep hands, rags and cleaning materials away from moving parts.
- Stop and isolate the machine before clearing a jam or performing maintenance.
How to print the posters
Use the button above, or your browser’s Print command. Choose portrait orientation. You can print the pack on paper or use your browser’s Save as PDF option. The print stylesheet removes the surrounding website content and places each poster on its own page.
Why these six topics
Woodworking safety guidance consistently emphasizes guarding moving machine parts, using equipment only for its intended purpose, inspecting safety devices, controlling hazardous energy during servicing, protecting eyes and face from flying particles, and reducing wood-dust exposure. OSHA’s woodworking eTool and machine-guarding guidance cover these hazards, while NIOSH has documented significant wood-dust generation from woodworking machinery such as table saws.
Safety references
- OSHA Woodworking eTool
- OSHA: woodworking point-of-operation hazards and controls
- OSHA 1910.213: woodworking machinery requirements
- NIOSH: control of wood dust from table saws
Hi everyone! I’m a woodworker and blogger, and this is my woodworking blog. In my blog, I share tips and tricks for woodworkers of all skill levels, as well as project ideas that you can try yourself.