Ernie Conover is no stranger to shop safety. As a well-respected woodworking teacher and highly skilled woodworker in his own right, Conover is truly a wealth of information for woodworkers of all skill levels. With so much experience, it’s no surprise that he’s published a variety of books, articles, and DVDs to share his knowledge with anyone who has questions.
Not even a pandemic can stop Conover — it just drives his creativity, which we can all agree is an important trait in any woodworker. Since he can’t lead in-person classes right now, he’s been teaching via Zoom, continually finding ways to impart years of expertise.
However, there are some things you don’t need in-person or virtual training to learn. Conover has developed a series of free videos focused on shop safety to make sure that anyone at any skill level has easy access to some of the most important lessons in woodworking.
In the video we’re sharing today, Conover talks about his favorite PPE to use in the shop. There is a wide variety of PPE you can use to protect your eyes and ears when you’re working, and most of the equipment Conover talks about meets ANSI Z87.1 safety standards. This international standard, according to the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), “prescribes the design, performance specifications, and marking of safety eye and face products”.
Beyond speaking to eye and ear safety, which we covered a few weeks ago in this blog, Conover recommends making use of personal dust protection — i.e., face masks — whenever you work in the shop. Having a dust collection system is great, and using some type of face mask when you’re doing things like sanding, grinding, or making lots of cuts will give you a great extra layer of protection.
To take good care of your hands, Conover recommends nitrile gloves, which you can find in most stores or on Amazon. These mostly come in handy if you’re working with chemicals or stains since they won’t react to most substances.
Last but not least, don’t forget about a safety can! The purpose of this can, which can be metal or high-grade plastic, allows you to dispose of rags saturated with flammable material. You’ll want to make sure you empty this can every night.
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Ernie Conover lives in Ohio and runs a craft school with his wife, where he teaches woodworking and woodturning. He has been teaching in this capacity since 1980. Additionally, Conover has been a longtime contributor to Fine Woodworking and has published nine books on various woodworking topics. For more information, visit www.conoverworkshops.com.
