Just my thoughts, but I would suspect that the thought pattern is that by the time a person feels they are getting serious enough to join the ABS, they have likely had a given level of experience. That being said, it would also be expected that PPE would be more or less a "common sense" thing.

Playing devil's advocate, I can just see the ABS putting up a list of "suggested" PPE list, and then some yahoo following it to the letter, then blaming the ABS when they got burned or whatever. It's terrible to think in that realm, but we currently live in an era where common sense isn't so common.

|quoted:

Just my thoughts, but I would suspect that the thought pattern is that by the time a person feels they are getting serious enough to join the ABS, they have likely had a given level of experience. That being said, it would also be expected that PPE would be more or less a "common sense" thing.

Playing devil's advocate, I can just see the ABS putting up a list of "suggested" PPE list, and then some yahoo following it to the letter, then blaming the ABS when they got burned or whatever. It's terrible to think in that realm, but we currently live in an era where common sense isn't so common.

true, however from experience i know some smiths do post links to the form on bladesmithing reddit. i also know just how stupid we men can be at times, and that common sense is not always a strong in every man. woman have a bit more commen sense then us males at times. however i will never understand fashion=). i'll be a blue jeans and t shirt guy till the day i die.

Kevin

Have you searched the ABS Forum for this information?

I searched it for you and you need to read this Topic of the Month, Click: Shop Safety

First rule in the forge area: Never grab anything handed to you. You're gonna get the hot end.

well I never wear gloves when forging unless I am forced to, like when I am working on a large billet and can't get my hand close with one one or if I am punching so I can get my hand over the work, I find I get burned more often and far worse with gloves on, (due to both becoming complacent and fumbling with tongs due to the gloves) also hammering with glove on is a good recipe for tendonitis and a short career.

I know a lot of folk recommend this, but I don't wear and will not allow any of my students to wear gloves when working on a grinder, drill, or saw, when I was in school for machine shop that was one of the FIRST safety rules drilled in to us, NO gloves around anything that spins.

The amount of UV exposure from a gas forge even when welding is probably less that a day at the beach, that said I wear safety glasses all day every day in the shop, and I know mine do have UV protection.

I wear ear protection all day everyday as well.

So you see I don't think we can even agree on what is needed and that is a part of the issue. bladesmiths do tend to be a independent lot, getting them all to agree on anything is a bit like hearding cats.. in the end it is up to us to be safe in our own shops and like Ed said a "common sense thing".

MP

I agree that a quick search or browse through the forum will help. I learned a lot from one of the Topics of the Month about shop safety and will be investing in a better respirator when I get home. I have one, but I'm not sure it's doing what I need and why take a chance?!

To add on what Matthew said, eye protection and not just from flying debris, but from UV rays is important.

Jerry Fisk had a great post about this on Instagram (which I can't get to on this computer) and relayed some of the issues that he'd encountered from forging and not protecting his eyes. So now he wears a full face visor that blocks the UV rays.

^I'm paraphrasing from memory and "she ain't what she used to be", so don't take that as a direct quote from the great Jerry Fisk, but it's definitely worth looking into!

Other than a few basic "do's and don'ts" I think one's safety would be the responsibility of each person in the forge with the one exception, when children are in the forge. Then they are under supervision and should be preached the basics. It will soon become a habit.

Most equipment comes with plenty of safety warnings. An example is the gauges on the oxy/acetylene that says " use no oil". Or "don't monkey around with wires",....

You can have a list of rules a mile long and it wont help if one doesn't follow the rules. The best safety equipment is between your ears. Let's face it, this is a dangerous business.

i also know just how stupid we men can be at times

I read that and had a flashback to my military career...... There was a universal saying...... "Stupid gets you killed!" <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

On a more practical note, over the years I've noticed that if myself, or another individual does something "stupid" and survives it, you can bet dollars to doughnuts that it will never happen again.

You can have a list of rules a mile long and it wont help if one doesn't follow the rules. The best safety equipment is between your ears. Let's face it, this is a dangerous business.

^Nailed it!^

Oxyfule torches do not use wires so im thinking your referring to a mig. i am only stating this cause i have a INDT 1100 Welding Fundamentals

WELD 1200 Blueprint Reading for Welders, not to be a dick or something like that. just a bit confused by the statement of "don't monkey around with wires".

I agree with all your guys statements. ghaa i keep forgeting to get a new screen for my face shield, at least im wearing my safety glasses. (and a pair of eye glasses underneath them).

|quoted:

I read that and had a flashback to my military career...... There was a universal saying...... "Stupid gets you killed!" <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

On a more practical note, over the years I've noticed that if myself, or another individual does something "stupid" and survives it, you can bet dollars to doughnuts that it will never happen again.

^Nailed it!^

Nailed it again!

List of safety rules:

1. Safety is the responsibility of the individual.

2. Stupid gets you killed, maimed, or otherwise unhappy.

3. Foresight is better than no sight, protect your eyes.

4. Loud stuff destroys your hearing, protect your ears.

5. Safety is the responsibility of the individual.

6. Fire can burn you. Burns hurt, so avoid setting yourself on fire.

7. Explosive liquids and gasses are, well, explosive. So be careful not to ignite them unnecessarily.

8. Safety is the responsibility of the individual.

9. Mechanical devices that spin can grab stuff like loose clothes, hair, body parts, tools, and other things. This can result in the grabbed stuff being mangled, torn, or thrown across the room and impaled into other stuff or people. Avoid this, it can hurt you.

10. Working in any environment with electrical or mechanical equipment, fire, hand tools, sharp or pointy objects, abrasives, chemicals, and other fun things is inherently dangerous. The safe life is the one where you grow fat on the couch watching TV. It's your choice.

11. Safety is the responsibility of the individual. Proceed at your own risk.

Well stated Joshua and Ed!

"Safely is the responsibility of the individual"

"Stupid gets you killed."

Well put Joshua and Ed. Pretty much everything we work with as bladesmiths can hurt you. Ultimately it is up to the maker to be safe. As has been said stupid will get you hurt. If you get a little voice in your head saying maybe I shouldn't do this, don't.

Brion