Safety

Modeling Safety

Model railroading is fun! But remember that we need to be careful of what we are doing while having that fun!!
You need to be thinking about safety any time you are working on your layout. We use tools that can cut, chemicals that can be toxic, and electric devices that have the potential to shock us. The fact that there is the possibility of harm should not dissuade us from engaging in model railroading. Hazards can be anticipated and avoided by a little planning and common sense.
Keep your work area clean and well lighted. Use goggles or safety glasses when cutting or performing striking operations where there is any chance that a chip or piece might fly off towards your eyes. Always err on the side of safety!
It is really not necessary to go out and buy one of every tool there is in advance of your need for them. You can start with a very simple set of tools. But be sure that you have the right tool for each job before you start to do it since it is much easier and safer to use the correct tool for each process. Buy the more advanced tools individually as you need each one. Be sure that your tools are in good shape before using them. Check them out before and after each use. In particular, cutting edges must be sharp. A dull tool is an unsafe tool. Heads should not be loose on their handles. Striking faces should not be mushroomed or chipped. Generally speaking, most tools are a one time expense. Buy the best that you can afford. Cheap tools are usually not worth the money you spend on them. They are not made with precision. Cheap cutting tools don't hold a sharp edge. A dull tool not only is unsafe, it can ruin your project while it is cutting you! Some cheap tools have even come apart when being used.
Glues are an important part of our arsenal of tools. Some are pretty innocuous. We use "white" and "yellow" (or "carpenter's") glues to fasten wood and paper. These glues are water based and can't do you much harm. Where you have the choice, it is safest to use water-based glues. But water-based glues are not always the best choice for many of the projects we will be doing. And other glues are not as harmless. Plastics are best joined with solvent based cements. Rubber based glues such as "Goo" and "Pliobond" are very handy in a number of applications. We normally only use small amounts of these glues at a time. But these all give off vapors that in quantity can be toxic. Be sure to use them only in a well ventilated area. The family of "super glues" are great for joining all sorts of things together - including human flesh! It is a good idea to keep a small bottle of super glue solvent (acetone) handy in case you do succeed in gluing your fingers together. Just remember that the solvent is itself unhealthy. Use only enough to break the cement bond and then wash your hands thoroughly.
Some of the paints that we use give off vapors that are toxic if breathed in large quantities. Experienced modelers will paint with an air brush in a spray booth that will exhaust any over spray to the outside. Beginners don't usually have that equipment, so be sure to work only in very well ventilated areas when painting. It is a good idea to wear a cartridge type filter mask that is rated for paint while working. Dust masks are not good enough - they will filter out the particulates but let the vapors through to you. When painting inside, remember that the odors can infiltrate into the main part of the house to the annoyance of other family members. And the vapors are usually flammable so be careful of open flames - stove and water heater pilot lights, smoking etc. It is a good idea to wear gloves when painting. Avoid direct skin contact with solvents, many of which can be absorbed directly through the skin into the system.
We mostly deal with relatively low voltages. Direct current electricity is fairly simple to understand and low voltage circuits can be worked with safely by beginners. But it can also cause fatal shocks when abused, so be sure that you know what you are doing before doing it. Read and follow directions! In particular, do not open any 110 volt appliance (such as a power pack) unless you really know what you are doing. Make sure that the grounding pins on all plugs are in good shape so that any stray voltages will exit to ground through the line cord and not through you! It is a bad idea to use "adapter plugs" to plug a 3-prong plug into an old-fashioned 2-hole socket. If necessary, have the socket rewired by a professional electrician unless you really understand 110 volt current. And absolutely under no circumstances should you cut the third, grounding pin off a plug to get it to fit a 2-hole socket.
When soldering, remember that the end of the iron is very hot! It is best to have and use a stand for your iron that is designed for the purpose of holding it safely. Melted solder is also very hot. When working overhead (usually under the layout) be careful that excess solder does not drip down onto you causing painful burns. If using a lead based solder, work in a well-ventilated area, do not handle food while handling the solder, and wash your hands thoroughly when finished soldering.
When using power tools be careful to wear tight fitting clothing. Do not wear loose or flapping items such as ties or unbuttoned shirt sleeves that have any chance of being caught in the tool you are using. Keep your fingers completely out of the cutting area. Use a wooden "pusher" to control your work in the area of saw blades and cutting heads. Wear safety goggles at all times. Stand aside from the area through which the work might fly if caught by the machine and kicked back at you.

This is not meant to be scary, but to give you some ideas on how to enjoy our hobby safely for many, many years.