[TheForge] Working alone in shop

Thu Oct 30 22:03:02 2003

Working alone in the shop is always a risk -- and it is always something I
have done.  For the 10 years we lived in Knoxville my shop was in a separate
building about 100 yards from the house but only about half the time was
someone else home.  When I started building a new house in the woods of NC
then it changed a great deal more -- most of the time I was alone doing
construction a mile from the nearest person.
I did the following.
1.) Tried to always carry a cell phone with me.
2.) Set it up that I would call my wife each day, at the end of the day.
(She was still in Knoxville, I was in Brasstown, NC)
3.) Every time I would get ready to do something of high risk -- climb a
ladder -- for example I would say to myself "listen up asshole if you slip
and fall you could kill yourself -- do you know what you are doing?"
4.) Try to do difficult tasks in the morning when I was fresh, not late in
the day when I was tired.
5.)  Really really plan the work and think about what could or might go
wrong.  Don't hurry.
6.) Put off some tasks until I could have someone else there -- even if it
screwed up the schedule.

In 2 and 1/2 years the only problem I ever had was a day when I had help and
was hurrying to get as much done as possible while I had help.  I didn't put
a cleat down on the subfloor and had a ladder slide out from under me. -- 
And I used to teach ladder safety !!

You can be safe when you work alone -- but you can't put things on
automatic.  Know your risks and have a plan to deal with them.  If there is
something you don't know how to do -- learn how to do with someone.

Dave Smucker

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mata Iaia" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 7:38 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Working alone in shop

>
>
> I have been a smith for only a few years, and have recently moved my shop
> from my backyard into a portion of my business's shop.  I am thrilled to
> have the space, to have a roof, and most of all to have a level and flat
> floor!
>
> I've also been able to get a small power hammer and access to a great air
> supply...so all of a sudden I've been able to build the shop I've longed
> for.
>
> Here is what I am experiencing:
>
> I am very safety conscious, perhaps to excess but given my passion for hot
> molten metal and hammers  I don't really think it is excessive.   When I'm
> forging it is so hypnotic and wonderful, but I also sometimes feel afraid
> when I am working alone.
>
> Have/do any of you ever experience this?  Any thoughts?
>
>
> Mata
>
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