DIY is popular. After all, whoever is handy saves a lot of money. Partly thanks to the many do-it-yourself chains and the right material, the threshold is low and the choice is therefore made quickly. The right material is half the battle, and that gives confidence, even to those with ‘two left hands’. One of the disadvantages of this low threshold is that inexperienced handymen underestimate the risk of an accident. They are too result-oriented and often want to get the job done too quickly. As a result, good preparation soon becomes the stepchild, resulting in falls and injuries, especially to the hands and eyes.
Content
- Ignorance and inexperience
- Important tips and advice
- Work gloves
- Protective clothing
- Safety glasses
- Ladders and scaffolding
- Work shoes
- Dust mask
- Safety helmet
- Extension cords and reels
- Keys and pliers
- Trip hazard
- Safe DIY ?? think first, then act
Ignorance and inexperience
Safety above all else. That should be the motto of every handyman. It suits inexperienced do-it-yourselfers who work with tools and building materials Danger of an accident always lurking. Incorrect and improper use of tools invariably causes problems during DIY jobs.
Appearance
Nevertheless, the prevention of accidents is usually only a matter of pausing and thinking first and then acting. Rather, first ask for advice on the use of tools, such as chisels and grinders. In short, don’t get started right away. There are leaflets about safe and responsible jobs at the large do-it-yourself stores and hardware stores. They have been drawn up in collaboration with Veiligheid.nl and are intended to protect the overly enthusiastic handyman against himself.
Important tips and advice
Do you not have the patience to really prepare well? Do you want to get started right away, because you already have so little time? Then take these 10 advice to heart:
Work gloves
Always put them on, it’s a small effort. Building material and mortar can be rough, with sharp edges. Without work gloves you will almost certainly get scrapes or cuts on the hands. Work gloves absorb the first blow, even if you hit the nail once with the hammer.
Protective clothing
Wear sturdy jeans and a shirt ?? and possibly a sweater? with long sleeves. Don’t put on a scarf, tie up long hair, and take off necklaces and rings. That’s better than the drill top scalping, strangling you. or that you lose a finger or thumb because you get caught on something. The latter is strongly encouraged, but it is extremely important to be aware of this when working with electrical appliances that have rotating parts.
Safety glasses
Rock chips and sand can damage the cornea. Moreover, almost all binders, such as mortar and additives, are also very dangerous to the eyes. So put on safety glasses when in doubt.
Ladders and scaffolding
Proper installation of safe ladders is very important to prevent serious accidents. Always check ladders and scaffolding for damage and make sure they are safety tested. Always move a ladder vertically.
Work shoes
Put on sturdy shoes with a thick profile. This prevents you from seriously injuring your feet if, for example, a brick falls on it or if you kick a nail. These shoes should also have a reinforced toe cap.
Dust mask
A lot of dust is released during certain jobs, such as sawing. Protect your lungs and wear a dust mask. There are different types of dust masks available in DIY stores. A fine dust mask protects against very small dust particles that are released when sanding soft wood, for example. Replace the mask regularly. In any case, put on a new dust mask every day for long-term sanding work lasting several days.
Safety helmet
It is always wise to wear a safety helmet, especially if you are also working overhead and something could fall down. Buy one that meets European safety standards.
Extension cords and reels
The combination of moisture and electricity is dangerous. So make sure that power cables are not in a pool of water. The earthed (!) Extension cord must also be connected to an earthed group with an earth leakage circuit breaker. As soon as something goes wrong, the power goes out … as it should. Unroll the extension cord; after all, a coiled cord (reel) causes induction and thus a melting hazard.
Keys and pliers
Use the correct size. The key or pliers will not come loose. Improper use of hand tools is one of the causes of injury on the job floor.
Trip hazard
Avoid tripping over your own things. If possible, give the tools and building materials a permanent place and do not leave anything lying around while you are working. Cables that lie here and there are also notorious when it comes to tripping hazards.
Safe DIY ?? think first, then act
These 10 tips and advice will go a long way if you want to do jobs safely, although the above list is by no means complete. Remember that an accident can happen. If you children don’t let them wander around you. After all, you have to keep your attention at work. Children should not be allowed to access the building materials and tools. It goes without saying that this is very dangerous if you cannot keep an eye on things. Safe and responsible you are in control of the tasks. Think first, then act is the motto.