Safe Care and Restoration of Vintage Tools and Equipment

The purpose of this document is to explore the reasons and methods of restoring vintage tools and equipment in such a way as to bring them up to current safety standards. Though the information provided is in the context of a theatrical scene shop, the same information is applicable to any kind of fabrication shop.
A brief history of workplace safety is given, along with how the frequency of workplace accidents gave rise to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Context is provided for the increased guarding with which modern tools are manufactured compared to older equipment, and methods for providing these safety guards for tools which were produced before their widespread use.
Finally, an example of a real-world tool restoration is provided, along with photographic explanations of the steps taken to bring an older tool safely into a modern shop.