17.4.2 Sander Safety

Follow these safety guidelines for working with circular and belt sanders:

Ensure that sanding belts are not too tight or too loose. Never operate a sanding disk if the paper is loose.
Use the correct grade of abrasive material for the job.
Ensure that the distance between a circular sander and the edge of the table is not greater than 1/4 inch.
Do not push materials against sanders with excessive force.
Sand only on the downstroke side of a disk sander.
Do not hold small pieces by hand. Use a jig for pieces that are difficult to hold securely.