One of the joys of being self-employed is simply that I answer to no one else. My workplace standards are whatever I want them to be. I love this freedom.
Over the years, however, I've noticed that some things are just a bad idea. Here's what comes to mind quickly:
- sandals/flipflops around broken glass. I patched up my daughters foot just yesterday. There WILL be shards even after I sweep.
- power tools with guards removed are fine, but not when I'm too tired for adequate control. Got the scars!
- working with high heat and not enough clothing/protective layering. (It's summer, ok?) This isn't just about burns, it's about not smoking my hair off and keeping my vision from getting destroyed.
- not wearing a mask when there's a lot of dust going on. At the end of the day, if I squeek like Mickey Mouse, that's not cool. Those are carcinogens in my lungs.
- fumes: perhaps lead, perhaps resin. Nasty stuff.
Those are just a few. So? I guess it's about how to do the work and not be a complete idiot. Personal responsibility combined with workplace freedom = greater potential for moments of sheer brilliance. My last studio had a sign on the door that stated,
" Closed shoes and silly hats required on this invention site". I think that still applies.