Safety

When woodturning, it is important to wear certain personal protective equipment (PPE). When working with spinning objects, loose clothing should not be worn; all jewellery should be removed; and long hair should be tied back. Since loose rags may also transfer color to the piece, paper towels should be used to avoid snags and accidents. Wood shavings generated during turning will need to be periodically removed.

• Eye protection is a necessity when woodturning. There are several PPE available for eye protection such as safety goggles, glasses, and visors. Although all of these are adequate, a visor that protects the entire head from dust and debris provides the highest level of protection.
• Respiratory equipment and dust collection systems are also important when woodturning or doing any type of woodworking that creates dust. This can range from a simple disposable dust mask to a full face helmet with a built in respirator. Most standalone respiratory equipment will interfere with dust shields and visors, so devices that incorporate both are ideal. Many woods create dust that is actually a health hazard. For example, cocobolo (granadillo) dust can cause toxic shock. Many people are sensitive to oils carried in walnut, locust, and oak sawdust. Long term exposure to fine wood dust has also been linked with an increased risk of developing cancer.
• Ear protection – Although compared to other power tools, a lathe is a quiet machine. However, earplugs should be worn if noise is excessive. This may be due to motor (fan) noise from a shop dust collector or the combination of wood and tool being used.
• Hand/skin protection – Gloves should not be used with rotating equipment since there's always a risk of getting tangled in the machine. Nevertheless, some woods provide splinters that not only puncture skin, but also cause festering sores and/or skin irritation. The polishes and finishes used in woodturning often contain organic solvents such as methanol, turpentine, and toluene, all of which can be harmful irritants to skin. This subject continues to be debated in the community.
• Foot protection – Protective footwear such as leather steel-toe boots is essential for any type of shop activity.

A good way to check the safety before starting the lathe is 'SAFER':

• S – Speed – The rotational speed should be slower for big, heavy items and faster for smaller, lighter things. Most craftsmen recommend starting at slow speeds and re-setting speed to low at the end of session.
• A – Aside – Stand to the side of the blank's 'firing line' (not in front of the wood).
• F – Fixings – Confirm that all materials and equipment tool-rest, tail-stock etc. are correctly attached and secured.
• E – Eye and ear protection – Wear sufficient eye and ear protection.
• R – Revolve – Confirm the wood can freely rotate without encountering any obstructions such as the tool rest.

Safe usage of a lathe also depends on the operator's choice of proper techniques for the lathe, tools, and wood. For example, using a high spindle speed with an unbalanced wooden blank may cause the lathe to vibrate dangerously. Spinning a large turning blank too quickly may cause it to explode. Inappropriate use of tools such as gouges and skew chisels can cause a catch, where the tool bites suddenly and aggressively into the wood in an uncontrolled manner. These risky practices can exert extremely large forces upon the wood, the tool, the lathe, and the operator. The wood could fracture or tear free from the lathe. In lathe accidents, tools are often torn from the operator's hand and thrown in unexpected directions. Particular care is required for wooden shapes that are not circular, such as off-center work, and for bowls with wings or square rims. Portions of the turning extend farther from the axis of rotation and are sometimes more difficult to see than the bulk of the wooden blank.