Guards

• Safeguarding sanding machinery involves guarding the areas that can inflict harm on operators. According to the OSHA regulation 1910.213(p)(1), self-feed sanders must be protected by semicylindrical guards to prevent the operator's hands from coming into contact with the in-running rolls.
  
  

Proper Equipment Usage

• Guarding sanding machines prevents injuries, but safety can be maximized when operators use the equipment with care. OSHA's eTool says that operators must practice safety precautions, such as keeping their hands and fingers away from surfaces that are being sanded. They must also know to take breaks from vibrating sanders every hour to avoid serious health conditions.
  
  

Health Hazards

• Amputations, lacerations, blindness, deafness and severed fingers are common accidental injuries reported in woodworking environments. Health hazards exist with sanding machines, too. The wood dust caused by sanding machinery has been linked to skin and respiratory diseases and cancer. The vibration caused by sanding machines can lead to "white fingers," which is a condition that can cause the muscle and tissue in your hands to die.