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Tool Safety Needs to be Taken Seriously
You would be surprised at the number of home owners who injure themselves when engaging in home improvement jobs. Something as simple as installing a shelf can lead to cuts, bruises and even fractures if a shelf collapsed and fell due to poor installation and lack of safety attire.
Regardless if a job is big or small, if tools are involved, there is always a risk that you can injure yourself. For this reason, it is vital to your well being, and those around you, that you take the following precautions before you start any job:
- Be alert and good humored – You should not take on any type of handy job if you are tired, under the influence of alcohol, heavy medication or are emotionally upset. Your mind needs to be focused on the task at hand.
- Don’t rush – You need to have patience when installing or building things. Don’t leave projects until the last minute and attempt to complete them quickly.
- Read instructions – All the tools that you have purchased, especially fancy equipment such as cordless power tools, should come with instructions. Make sure you read all instructions thoroughly before using them. In addition, if you are building or installing an item that comes with instructions, use these as a guide. You should also always adhere to the safety warnings of manufactures.
- Use the right tools – Don’t just grab any tool, or your favorite tool to complete a home improvement job. Find out what the exact tools are that you need before you start. Do not substitute tools if you do not have the specified equipment. Tools should only be used for the purpose of which they were intended.
For instance, there is more than one type of saw (IE. cordless circular saw, hand saw), and each are designed to effectively cut specific materials. There is also more than one style of drill bit. Using improper equipment can cause set backs in your project, cause damage in you home – or worse – cause serious injury to you or someone you care about.
Therefore, always find out what tools you need and if you don’t have them, purchase the equipment, or borrow it from someone else
- Wear proper protection – There are different pieces of safety gear that you can wear to protect yourself based on the project you are doing. The following is a list of standard safety equipment you should have handy:
- Safety goggles – protects the eyes from flying debris
- Heavy gloves – hand protection around sharp objects
- Long attire – wear long pants and long sleeve shirts to protect the skin.
- Strong footwear – This will help protect your feet incase something falls
- Face mask – helps to keep you from inhaling dust, chemical fumes and other particles in the air.
- Hat or hair tie – If you have long hair, it’s a good idea to keep it tied up when working so it doesn’t get caught in the action
- Know where your children and pets are at all times – If you have small family members, you need to make sure they are separate from your working area, as you won’t want them to be hit by any falling debris or become injured by playing with tools that happen to be lying around.
- Avoid electric shock – If you will be working around electric outlets or with wires, be safe and shut off the electricity before you start your task.
- Make sure the room is well ventilated – Many home improvement projects result in a lot of dust and smelly fumes. Make sure you air out the area you are working in by opening windows or doors. Also, don’t forget to take breaks and get some fresh air.
- Store tools properly – When you are finished using your tools, you should store them properly in a safe, dry and elevated area. This will ensure that your tools last a long time, and that curious children won’t find them.
You can put a price on your home, but you certainly can’t put a price on your safety or on the safety of your family. Be safe and smart when you work with tools. |
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