Home Repair Safety Tips

Home improvement and home maintenance projects often call for risky practices and accidents can happen. You need to be especially careful when you’re working at heights; with power tools or sharp blades; with heavy, awkward, or toxic materials; or with electricity or natural gas. It simply isn’t worth it to do your own home improvements if you run a risk of seriously injuring yourself. Don’t hesitate to call the experts at Handyman Connection of Lexington for the really tough jobs. If you must work on a home improvement project that is considered “high-risk”, please use the following safety precautions:

1. Tackle only those tasks that you feel safe handling. For example, if you’re uncomfortable on the roof because it is too high or steep, leave the roof repairs to a professional. The same holds true with jobs that require specialized tools.
2. Keep a tidy work area to avoid creating your own hazards. Don’t allow power cords to tangle. Pick up and properly store power tools, sharp tools, or dangerous materials that might cause injury. Pull all nails from old lumber.
3. Keep tools and supplies away from the reach of small children.
4. Dress for safety. In other words, don’t work in your flip-flops and shorts. Sturdy clothing, work boots, and gloves will protect you. And wear safety glasses whenever you use power tools, hammers, or other striking or cutting tools. If you’re going to be working beneath construction, get a hard hat.
5. Read the owner’s manual! When using power tools, be sure to follow all precautions stated in the manual. Always unplug the tool before servicing or adjusting it and when you’re finished with the task at hand. Be sure the tool works properly and is equipped with proper safety guards.
6. Keep drill bits, blades, and cutters sharp. Dull tools require extra force and can bind, making the tools dangerous.
7. Protect electrical tools with GFCI receptacles. When working with corded power tools outdoors, be sure they’re plugged into a receptacle that is protected by a ground-fault-circuit interrupter (GFCI). In the event of a short, a GFCI will shut off the circuit instantaneously.
8. When using a ladder, position it on a flat, firm surface. As you climb or reach, keep your weight centered. Do not lean out to one side; keep your hips between the rails; never stand on the top two rungs. When using an extension ladder to reach the roof, extend at least two rungs above the eaves. This way, you can hold onto the ladder as you step onto the roof.
9. Don’t go up on the roof in bad weather or if your roof has a pitch steeper than 5 in 12. Pitch expresses the angle of a roof’s slope. To find a roof’s pitch, measure how many inches it rises vertically for each 12 inches of horizontal “run,” or distance. A 6-in-12 pitch rises 6 inches vertically for every 12 horizontal inches of run.
10. Do your own electrical work only if you have the necessary knowledge. Be sure to shut off the power before working on a circuit. Use a circuit tester to make sure a circuit is not active after you have shut off the power. (Sometimes more than one circuit is wired through an electrical box.) Never work on a live circuit, fixture, outlet, or switch.
11. Equip your garage or workshop and your home with fire extinguishers. Every home should have two working A-B-C fire extinguishers. Be sure they’re large enough to handle home fires; they need to be rated a minimum size of “2A10BC” on the label. Periodically check them to be sure they are fully charged.
12. Protect yourself against exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials. Many varnishes, strippers, solvents, preservatives, adhesives, and other products used to accomplish projects contain hazardous ingredients. Pay attention to all label warnings, including instructions about proper ventilation. For some materials or situations, a certified respirator is a must.
13. Dust and fibers can be hazardous to breathe. When sanding wood or wallboard joint compound, wear a dust mask. Never sand, scrape, or dislodge surfaces that you suspect to contain asbestos; doing so can put highly hazardous fibers into the air.
14. Last but not least, keep a good first-aid kit on hand. You can buy a first-aid kit that is endorsed by the American Red Cross at The Red Cross Shop.

The expert craftsmen of Handyman Connection of Lexington have experience in a broad range of home improvement solutions. Be sure to remember us for your next project. We proudly hold over 20 years of experienced craftsmanship and a satisfaction guarantee that will give you peace of mind. Check out our services and contact us for any questions you may have, or schedule a free, no-obligation project estimate!