Dust Mask and Ear Protection (Shop PPE)

Dust masks (or a proper respirator, for fine dust from MDF and finishing work specifically) and hearing protection (ear defenders/muffs or earplugs) are, alongside safety glasses, the standard personal protective equipment for a woodworking shop -- and, realistically, the two most commonly skipped. Both protect against damage that's invisible in the moment: wood dust exposure and hearing loss from sustained machine noise are both cumulative, long-term harms rather than something that hurts immediately the way a blade nick does, which is exactly why they're easier to talk yourself out of wearing on any given cut.

A basic disposable dust mask handles occasional light sanding; genuinely fine dust (MDF, some exotic species known for causing stronger reactions) calls for a proper NIOSH-rated respirator instead. For hearing protection, most stationary power tools run loud enough, for long enough, that some form of protection is worth wearing as a default habit rather than reserved only for the loudest individual cuts.