Wood Shop Injuries

Although woodworking is a popular hobby and the woodworking industry employs thousands of workers nationwide, few studies have examined injuries associated with this activity, especially in relation to woodshop tool use.  We conducted a survey of amateur and professional woodworkers (n = 283) in New Mexico to determine histories and rates of tool-specific injuries.  Injuries associated with woodshop tool use were reported by 64% of all respondents.  Hammers, chisels/gouges, and table saws were most frequently reported in association with injuries, although the highest tool-specific injury were associated with use of jointer-planers (4.9 injuries per 1000 person-hours of use), chisels/gouges (3.3 injuries), and drill presses (3.1 injuries).  One third reported tool use-associated injuries that were severe enough to require professional medical attention; 5% of all respondents suffered partial amputations.  Courses in the safe use of shop tools may help to reduce rates of injuries among woodworkers.

The preceding abstract was reprinted with permission from Section 35 (Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine) of Excerpta Medica.

Tool-Related Injuries Among Amateur and Professional Woodworkers

Becker T.M., Trinkaus K.M. and Buckley D.I. - Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Schl. of Public Health/Community Med., Seattle, WA 98195 USA - J. Occup. Environ. Med. 1996 38/10 (1032-1035).


Art Hazard News, Volume 20, No. 1 1997

This article was originally printed for Art Hazard News, © copyright Center for Safety in the Arts 1997. It appears on CAR courtesy of the Health in the Arts Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, who have curated a collection of these articles from their archive which are still relevant to artists today.