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• Fatigued:
Today we modelers have an easy solution for covering our models; there
are many adhesive-backed, iron-on coverings. You can purchase a covering
iron that is designed specifically for this job or you may use an empty
steam iron with a temperature control to apply the covering.
Are there
safety risks in covering a model? Yes, there are. After all, we have a
good energy source: a hot iron. If you are tired, you are more likely to
make errors during this task.
Your goal may be to finish the covering
job before turning in for the night, but it could take longer than you
thought. If you are getting tired, the longer you work, the more likely
you are to slip and burn yourself. You are also more likely to lose your
grip on that wing and punch a hole in the covering or in your hand while
trimming the edges with a sharp hobby knife.
If you are tired or getting
tired, get some rest and do the shop work later.
•
Distracted: Hobby
saws are sharp, and they make cutting thick balsa or thin plywood much
easier than using a hobby knife. I have several handsaws and a Dremel
jigsaw I use regularly. For the handsaw work you need a backing surface,
such as a substantial wood block, that is sacrificial. You shouldn't
care if you cut into it while cutting the work piece. For the jigsaw you
may need a piece of sacrificial wood to aid in pushing something through
the saw.
As when using any sharp tools, your attention needs to be
focused on the tool and the working piece. You cannot afford to be
distracted. You should not be thinking about how to fly a Split S
maneuver, how to solve problems at work, or how to get your son or
daughter to take a stronger interest in his or her schoolwork.
Not
paying full attention to the task at hand can be hazardous to your
hand—particularly your fingers and thumb. If you get distracted, stop
the cutting for a moment and refocus. Keep your mind and eyes on the
work. Worry about those other concerns later.
Click on photo to view large image with caption
• Commodore Syndrome: This
is a dangerous attitude. Unwarranted overconfidence in your ability to
control the working situation without safety-barrier protection is
inherently dangerous.
One of the best devices I ever bought was a
handheld Dremel power tool. It can drill, grind, sand, or cut. It will,
with the right disk attached, grind through landing-gear wire quickly
and easily. Those little ceramic grinding disks work great, but they
occasionally shatter if they are overheated or if you get them in a
slight bind.
Let's say you are ready to work and can't find your safety
glasses. What do you do? You may be tempted to say to yourself, "If I'm
careful and don't stress the wheel by bending it, it won't shatter. I
can do this."
I implore you to learn to identify this unjustified
confidence for the danger it is. Recognize this safety risk. Use the
barrier safety defense with a pair of goggles, and you will go a long
way toward making your model-building experience more enjoyable and free
of injury.
Ensuring the right attitude in preparing for shop work is the
first level of safety you need to achieve. Then, don't sit on your
laurels. You need a second level of safety—a precheck of your
tools—before beginning your work.
If the device is electrical, such as
the soldering gun or Dremel hand grinder, make sure the tool heads are
in good mechanical condition and tightly clamped, and that the power
cord is not frayed, worn bare, or nicked. If you are using a hand tool,
look at the condition of the handle to ensure that it is tight and not
going to come loose or crumble in your hand while you work.
If the tool
is flawed, repair or discard it. Get rid of damaged tools that cannot be
repaired.
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