Sometimes, when working on a project, you become so completely involved with what your doing you shut out the world. Your concentration becomes so intensely focused on the task at hand and the desire to make progress, that you overlook many common safety issues.
In an attempt to help you avoid the Tool Shed Lobotomy, this list of common tips should help you avoid pain and injury while you tackle your next Do It Yourself Project.
Clean work area:
All you need is that quick little tweak out in the shed. The corner of the work bench is good enough, as that's all you can see for the junk piled from your last project. Just hold the piece with your fingers and drill away. It'll work out, just this once.
Time to go to the ER for stitches. This could all be avoided with a clean work surface allowing you to get to the vise to safely hold the item you were about to drill.
Proper Tool for the Job:
Where's the screwdriver when you need it, I'll just grab this wood chisel this one time, itll get the screw out. Oops, slipped again, more stitches.
Always use the proper tool, taking short cuts because you can't find the right tool is a dangerous excuse.
Safe Environment:
It's been raining for a week, and there's 2 inches of water in the basement. But I tripped a breaker and the main box is in the basement. ZAP, this time a trip to the morgue.
Water and electricity don't mix, always make sure your standing on a dry surface when around electricity. Using a power tool in the yard when the grass is wet, working in a damp basement, wherever there is water leave the power tools alone.
Properly Stored Tools: All my tools are in a 5 gallon bucket in the shed. I need the utility knife, and I think it's on the bottom. I'll just dig right in and find it. Here we go again, more stitches.
A place for everything, and everything in its place. Peg board was invented for a reason. With tools hung up on hooks with an outline painted on the board, you can easily find what you need. You can also tell when something is missing when the neighbor fails to return it.
Leave the Guards On:
I'm just cutting this one little piece, the safety guard on the table saw got lost when I was cutting 4x8 sheets, oh well I'll be careful. This ones going to take surgery, took out some ligaments and nerves in you hand did you.
Guards are there for a reason, a simple concept. A guard is to guard against sticking you hand or fingers in a place that will rapidly make hamburger out of them.
Ear Protection:
There's only one tree down across the driveway, I won't be using the chain saw for long.
Unless you want your spouse to live through the frustration of repeating everything they say to you after you reach the age of 50, be sure to wear ear protection.
SAVED THE MOST OBVIOUS ONE FOR LAST!
Always Wear Safety Glasses:
I only need to grind the corner off this one piece, I'll squint to avoid the sparks. Eye specialist here we come, you've gotten some metal particles in your eyes.
Working with fiber glass, would you believe small bits of glass are more painful and harder to find. Metal particles rust almost immediately leaving a circle rust stain around them, making them easier to find. Glass bits are almost invisible and very hard to find.
As a do it yourself enthusiast it is unlikely you work in this environment day in and day out. Being less familiar you need to compensate by being super sensitive to unsafe practices. Take the time to think about what your planning on doing it before you dive right in. Is what your about to do a SAFE plan?
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