Home Improvement Safety
Posted by Lee Cameron on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 2:39pm.
Did you know that this year, 1 out of every 5 homeowners will injure themselves when tackling a home improvement project? Whether it's a hammer-meets-thumb smash or something far, far more serious, home improvement injuries are frighteningly common. And the worst thing is that most of then can be prevented with a little bit of foresight and caution. Here are some big safety tips that you should keep in mind before you tackle that big project.
Never Work Tired
Sleepiness can lower your reaction time almost as much as being drunk - and you know it's not a good idea to use a power saw while you're drunk. If you feel your mind wandering and your eyelids getting heavy, it's time to put the tools down and stop working.
Care With Cords
Extension cords can be the cause for some of the worst home improvement accidents there are. Make sure that you are not using your cords incorrectly. Read the instructions on the packaging to determine the proper uses. Don't string a number of cords together for length, just get a longer cord when you need one. Don't plug too many cords into the same outlet. If used improperly, extension cords can cause fire and even electrocution. Be careful with them!
Secure Clamps
Here's a scary stat: 4,000 Americans a year accidentally lob off a body part. Keep that in mind next time you're holding a piece of plywood down while you saw. Never use your hands to secure something that you could use a clamp for instead. Especially when doing something as dangerous as cutting wood, you want to keep your hands clear from danger areas and keep that wood perfectly secure. If you can hold something down with a clamp, vice, pliers, etc, do it and keep your precious fingers out of harm.
Ladder Safety
Another very common home improvement accident comes from falling from ladders. Of course, the best case scenario when using a ladder is to have someone there to hold it steady and spot you if you get in trouble. If you're working alone and you're outside, you might want to consider making a ladder brace - a piece of sturdy wood that you can stake into the ground against the bottom of the ladder to keep it from slipping. Also remember to always put your ladder on dry, level ground. And never stretch! Your legs should always be parallel with the ladder. If you have to lean to reach something, it's time to move your ladder.
Protect Yourself
The vast majority of home improvement injuries could have been avoided if the homeowners had worn proper protective equipment. Always wear safety goggles that are impact resistant and fit securely over your face. When using powertools, wear specially-made ear protection. The amount of noise that most tools put out is often louder than the ear can take and may lead to permanent damage to your hearing after a period of time. Protect yourself from breathing in dust, sawdust and worse by wearing a mask. A simple paper mask will keep out most of the things you'd ever have to worry about. And finally, make sure you're wear a nice sturdy pair of gloves. Sure it may not prevent every injury - accidentally bringing your hammer down on your thumb will still hurt and you still want to stay away from that saw - but the extra protection should keep you safe from the normal nicks and scratches you're likely to get.
Have a Plan
Finally, the most important thing to remember when working on home improvement is to be prepared for the worst. If possible, always have someone around who can come help you if you get into trouble. If that isn't possible, keep a phone nearby with emergency numbers (including poison control) programmed in. Know exactly what you're going to do and who you should call before something bad happens because, believe me, you'll have a lot of trouble figuring it out after it happens.
Just remember to be careful and think clearly and you shouldn't have any trouble. Doing home improvements yourself can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Just be safe out there!
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