It’s fun and rewarding to tackle DIY projects around the house, but there is also the risk of injury. Without proper safety measures, there is a greater chance of injury while working with tools and chemicals. Here are 7 tips for home improvement safety that you should always follow when completing a project yourself.
Wear Protective Gear for Home Improvement Safety
It’s important to protect your face and hands when working with tools. Wear goggles and a mask to keep dust and debris away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Some power tools are so loud that they can damage your hearing, so put on ear protection. Protect your hands from cuts and scrapes by wearing heavy-duty gloves.
Be Prepared to Put Out a Fire
Certain projects increase the risk of fire, as does the use of extension cords. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in your workshop in case you need to put out a small blaze. Additionally, some oil-based paints and primers are combustible. Discard brushes and nap rollers by enclosing them in a metal tin before properly disposing of them.
Home Improvement Safety and Wood Clamps
When sawing or nailing wood, you are more likely to hurt yourself when holding the wood in place with your hands. Invest in a variety of different-sized clamps to secure wood pieces to your work table and help keep your hands safe.
Work in a Well-Lit Area
You are more likely to make a mistake that causes injury if you don’t have enough light where you are working. Turn on all the lights when you are completing a home improvement project, and if there isn’t enough light, bring in more. You can rent a commercial work light at a hardware store. Even a headlamp is helpful when working in small or dim spaces.
Ventilation When Painting
Most house paint is full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are unhealthy to breathe. If you are painting indoors, plan for a day when it is comfortable to open the windows. Turn on fans to circulate the paint fumes out of the home and help the paint dry more quickly. Water-based paints and primers usually have fewer VOCs than oil-based ones, so choose those if you can.
Read the Instructions for Home Improvement Safety
If you are assembling something or using a tool that comes with a manual, read the instructions that came with it. By using tools properly and following the instructions in the correct order, your project is more likely to be accident-free.
Don’t Work When Tired
This tip may seem obvious, but many people try to overdo themselves by tackling projects when they don’t have enough energy. Only use power tools and work on your home when you are alert and well-rested. You’ll have a better outcome and be less likely to make a mistake that causes injury.
In-Depth 360 Home Inspection Services offers home inspection services to the Puget Sound area. Contact us to request an appointment.