Editorial Policy: How Workshop Basics Is Written

Independence

Workshop Basics is editorially independent. No manufacturer, retailer or advertiser has any say in what we write. We do not accept free tools, payment or sponsorship in exchange for coverage, and we do not endorse brands.

How topics are chosen

We write about the decisions people face when setting up and using a home workshop, prioritising topics where mistakes are costly or dangerous: electrics, dust, guarding, and the early layout choices that are hard to undo. Reader questions sent by email also shape what we cover.

How guides are written

Each guide is written by Tom Haldane from practical experience of the tasks described.
Factual claims, especially about safety, regulations and standards, are checked against primary sources as described in our fact-checking process.
Where rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, we say so and link to the official source.
Where we are not confident a point is accurate and current, we leave it out.

Safety topics

Guides that touch on electrical work, hazardous dust or machinery explain the risks plainly, point to Health and Safety Executive or government guidance, and say clearly when a job needs a qualified professional. We do not publish instructions for work on fixed electrical wiring, gas, asbestos or structural alterations.

Updates

Each guide shows the date it was last updated. We review guides when standards or regulations change and when readers report problems. Minor edits such as fixing a typo do not change the date; changes to advice do.

Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it promptly. Significant corrections, those that change advice or a fact a reader might have relied on, are noted at the end of the guide with the date. Report errors to [email protected].

Use of AI tools

We may use software tools, including AI writing assistants, to help with drafting, structure and proofreading. Every guide is reviewed, edited and fact-checked by a person before publication, and that person is responsible for its accuracy. Images on the site are illustrative and may be computer generated; they are not photographs of specific products.

Editorial policy