By HILARY JOHNSON
Safety Tips for the DIY Enthusiast
When you work on a project, do you get so involved in what you’re doing that you tune out the world? Sometimes when working on something we get so absorbed in it that we push aside being safe. This is obviously very dangerous. Below are some safety tips you should keep in mind when working on any DIY project.
1. Have a clean and organized work area. Injuries can occur if your work area is cluttered. Suppose you wanted to cut a piece of wood but you saw that your work area was cluttered. You decide that you can cut the piece of wood without having to clean up and your hand slips and/or the wood falls. You could then accidently slice your hand open and have to head to the hospital for stitches.
Having a clean and organized place to work helps to prevent injuries from occurring. Ensure that the next time you’re working on a project, you set aside time to clean and organize your work area.
2. Use the proper tools for the project. You can’t complete your task safely without the right tools for doing it. If you were trying to cut a piece of wood with a kitchen knife instead of a saw, then you’ll probably find that it isn’t going to work out so well for you. The kitchen knife wouldn’t cut the wood, at least not very well, but you could also cut your hand or hurt yourself in another way.
Using the wrong tool for the project will ensure that you damage the project, the tool, or yourself.
3. Electricity and water doesn’t end well. Make sure that when plugging in any power tools or anything that requires electricity, that there isn’t water near. When working on projects, many people have gotten electrocuted because they weren’t aware of what was around them.
4. Properly store your tools. Suppose that you just throw all of your supplies into a drawer. You begin looking in that drawer for a pen but you cut your hand on some scissors. Had you placed the scissors in a place where the blade was concealed you wouldn’t have injured yourself.
Store your supplies in the proper place to ensure the safety of your supplies and of yourself.
5. Use the proper protection. If you’re working on a big project whether building a tree house or painting a house, ensure that you’re being properly protected. If working with loud tools, wear some sort of ear protection to protect your hearing. If you’re cutting something like wood or metal, be sure to protect your eyes.
Without the proper protection, you could be heading to the hospital with a very serious injury. Even if you’ve been fine in the past, you could be doing damage to yourself that you won’t see for a long time to come, like damaging your hearing by not wearing ear protection.
It’s very common for people to get so involved in what they’re doing that they push aside safety. But safety is the last thing you want to ignore. Without it, horrific accidents can happen. Be responsible and ensure that you don’t forget about being safe when working on projects. Safety first!
