i keep it simple and wear mask and eye protection and nitrile gloves and a hat when working. pretty automatic now...i'm too lazy to overanalyze this or to sort out under what particular situations this makes the best sense. i am used to it and it just happens automatically...no real inconvenience.

in getting to my current headset on the topic (working on my 14th boat now)..i just had too many incidents where i realized i was just a step away from something more serious happening....whether that was a piece of wood kicking up into my face unexpectedly while using a saw, accidently getting epoxy or solvent on my hands or breathing in dust or vapor that i did not expect. i did at one point develop a rash from epoxy exposure...which was kind of a wake-up call i guess.

anyway, i enjoy myself and don't consider myself overly cautious....most of these behaviours are automatic, simple, prudent safety habits like, as other's have mentioned, putting on a seatbelt, wearing a helmet when riding a bike or wearing a life-jacket.

anyway....that's my 2 cents