As someone who has been likened to a demolition expert and nicknamed Clumsy Clara at other times I feel qualified to write on this subject. It is a well known fact that more accidents occur in the home and with the advent of readily accessible power tools the severity of such accidents has increased. When you are planning any project, whether at home or work, safety should always be of utmost importance and in the forefront of any plans.
So here are a few safety tips which hopefully will help you avoid accidents, if at all possible.
PLAN YOUR PROJECT WELL
Do not just think it would be great to have a new pond' and start working on it straight away. Instead give the whole idea some thought. Draw out paper plans if necessary, a timetable of what is needed and when you will be doing it.
DO NOT BE A JACK OF ALL TRADES. KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS
I am all for learning new skills and acquiring knowledge however far too many people take on over ambitious tasks these days. The advent of Do-It-Yourself had led to people thinking that everyone can safely and accurately work with electrics, plumbing, gas and one hundred and one things more. This is a nonsense. Know your limitations and if in doubt call in an expert. In the long run it will be cheaper and it will be safer. Apart from the safety implications of doing the work, there are also the safety implications to your families health, if they have to live in unsafe surroundings, due to your poor workmanship.
ASSESS THE WORK AREA
If you are about to start a job assess the work area for dangers such as loose cables, insufficient space or broken tools. Stand back and really look around. Pay particular attention to objects which may be above your head. If you find any problems attend to them before you start your work.
THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB
As a woman who has been known to use a knife as a screwdriver or a spoon as a lever I understand the importance of using the right tool for the job. If you do, the job will have a more professional finish, be completed sooner and be much safer whilst you are doing it. Investing in good basic tools is a must.
CORRECT CLOTHING
It is important to dress sensibly if you are about to undertake a DIY task. If necessary wear protective gloves, goggles and ear defenders. Most of these can be bought from any DIY store. Wear sensible shoes which will protect your feet and help you to keep your balance. It is best to cover your arms and legs but do not have floaty sleeves which mat catch in equipment.
CONCLUSION
Really, as with most things in life, safety boils down to using your commonsense. Do not rush, take your time, work steadily and take plenty of breaks. If you work solidly for hours on end, you will end up so tired, it will be easy for you to make a mistake and hurt yourself.
Never forget that it is always better to be safe than sorry!
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