Take These Precautions Before Any DIY Project
Doing your own home improvement and maintenance projects can be rewarding: in addition to saving money, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes when you complete a task yourself. But the accident rate among hobby enthusiasts can be higher than you think, so it’s important to follow some basic safety precautions when using power tools, ladders, and blades. It can be easy to forget to wear PPE when you’re in your own garage, but preventing serious injury can depend on it, so here are a few tips when you’re working on home projects.
Ladder safety
Ladder safety is at the top of the list for injury prevention. Falling down stairs can be painful at best and fatal at worst. Always make sure your ladder is the right size for the job you are doing. If you can’t reach to get the job done without stepping on the top two steps, your ladder isn’t high enough. Also, using a ladder that is not fully open so that the braces lock into place can cause the ladder to move while you are on it. Also, it is not recommended to use the ladder on uneven ground as the ladder may swing back and forth.
Always maintain three points of contact and try to keep limbs and weight as close to the ladder frame as possible to avoid tipping over. If you are using an extension ladder, make sure that for every four feet you climb, the legs of the ladder are one foot from the wall. This will make sure your ladder is at the right angle to support your weight. Here are some more tips on how to make your stairs safer and more comfortable to use .
Eye protection
It goes without saying that safety glasses are recommended when working with power tools, but they can be easily forgotten. Placing a pair in a conspicuous place near where your power tools are stored is a good way to remind yourself to put them on before working with tools that can kick dust or particles into the air and therefore into your eyes. Make sure the goggles you use are stamped Z87 or Z87+. This label means that the American National Standards Institute has evaluated your eye protection for use with tools. The use of poor quality eye protection may cause the glasses to break or not protect your eyes effectively.
Gloves
If you are handling sharp-edged material or debris that may have nails or hardware sticking out of it, you should always wear gloves. Metal cuts and puncture wounds are notoriously difficult to clean, and in addition to being uncomfortable, they can also cause infection. Using durable puncture-resistant leather or synthetic gloves can save you a trip to the emergency room.
Outdoor electricity and utility security
If you are doing an outdoor project, always be sure to call 811 before digging to avoid accidentally disturbing buried utilities or puncturing septic or underground oil tanks. Also try to stay away from power lines. Most overhead power lines require a distance of at least ten feet, but it’s always best to stay further away from them.
Proper ventilation for dust and smoke
If you work inside, be sure to take care of ventilation and dust collection. If you don’t have a good vacuum cleaner, use a dust mask and be sure to clean up dust as you go. If you are using chemicals on something that gives off fumes, you may need to do it outdoors or ventilate the area as much as possible. Regular dust masks won’t protect you from fumes, so don’t rely on a mask for that, like spray paint or nail polish thinner.