Owning a home is a dream come true for many. But, it comes with numerous responsibilities. As a homeowner, you need to stay in control of the upkeep and maintenance of your home. With time, some things get faulty, necessitating proper maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, repairs are associated with many home hazards, such as accidents that can happen, and it’s good to learn how to avoid them.
What are the ways people get injured during home repairs?
- Ladders– Most people get accidents due to the use of the wrong size of ladders. If you use the wrong ladder size, you won’t climb it as required. You may also injure yourself while trying to repair roofs, ceilings, clean gutters, or painting high walls.
- Electricity– Electrical injuries are common types of home repair accidents. Such home hazards range from small electric shocks to fatal electrical faults that result in severe injuries. Although you may be comfortable fixing minor electrical jobs in the house, most of the electrical work requires an expert.
- Sharp tools– Sharp objects also result in many accidents during home repairs. While working with a sharp object, the chances of you cutting yourself are generally high. Things like knives, saws, and power drills are all culprits.
- Chemicals– Paints and cleaning chemicals are all dangerous. They can cause respiratory difficulties, burns, skin, and eye injuries.
What are the ways to deal with home repair hazards?
1. Use safe tools
The most crucial aspect regarding tool safety is quality—Shun low-quality or cheap devices, and learn how to use the tools correctly. For instance, it might seem okay to use a screwdriver as a chisel, but this can damage your appliances and still injure you. Most of the devices come with fitted safety guards, and this is particularly true for power equipment. Make sure that the safety guards remain on the tool and don’t remove them.
2. Tool maintenance
How you maintain your tools also matters. If you don’t keep your appliances in good condition, they are likely to harm you more than ones that are often maintained. For instance, if your hammer has a loose handle, it can cause a lot of damage than one in good condition; for example, hurting your palms. If you happen to be using oscillating multi-tools, it’s crucial to have the right oscillating tool blades for the task. These will not only enhance your safety, but will also reduce costs, work time, and stress.
3. Wear protective gear
Prevention of home hazards is crucial, so wear goggles when sanding, filing, working with power equipment, or other tasks involving flying particles. Allow your safety glasses to wrap around the sides, and this ensures that no deflected particles enter your eyes from the sides.
4. Use ladders safely
Whether using your ladder to go up or come down, always face the ladder head and at hold onto the side rails using both hands. When working in front of a door, lock it to avoid getting off balance. If using a stepladder, always open it fully, lock the braces on either side and pull down the bucket shelf.
5. Electrical safety
Electricity is beneficial in your home, but it can still harm you. Avoid working on a live electrical circuit attached to an electrical source. To stay safe, unplug the circuit or unscrew the fuse before you commence any work. Confirm if there are any disconnected cables and reconnect them using electrical tape. A loose electrical wire can break an electrical circuit and injure you.
Conclusion
There are numerous home hazards, and it’s good to exercise caution when doing repairs. Acquire the right tools and maintain them as required. Also, use ladders safely and have electrical tasks handled by a professional. By observing the mentioned safety measures at home, you’ll have your repairs accomplished with minimal or no injuries.
