Hi Mike
I think it's good to keep H&S in mind at all times and also to have a critical eye on how others work and use tools and equipment as that way we learn and reinforce good practice or question what we think is poor practice.
I watched the clip and although Andrew didn't mention it, like most demonstrators I think Andrew might have left his face shield off to allow for clarity of speech. He did wear safety specs though. I do see many turners who don't even do that or rely on their 'normal' specs to protect their eyes rather than prescription safety specs or wearing safety specs over their normal specs.
Andrew did stand in front of the timber as you say, but it was a solid blank which he'd pre-checked, it was captured between the chuck and the tailstock and he did run it up to speed slowly from standstill.
I very much liked the fact that Andrew locked the quill after each adjustment, which I don't see demonstrators do that often.
Unlike seventhdevil, I didn't see "many things that people will find unsafe" and in general I thought Andrew was continually covering safety points throughout the recording.
On the subject of face shields, I went to the Turn East event this year and watched a demonstration where the demonstrator recommended a particular make of face shield and after buying one for around £30 I now wear it constantly. Its predecessor was approx £10 and I didn't wear it that much unless the timber was a bit questionable, relying on my safety specs. The new face shield is much more functional and comfortable and so is now in constant use (unless I have my Airshield on). A very good buy and so my gratitude to the demonstrator for giving his opinion at the demo (I haven't named him in case he would prefer me not to but I enjoyed his demonstration too
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