Top Safety Tips for Home Improvement

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If you are planning on making any home improvements soon, it is very important to look out for the safety of yourself and the other members of your home. Do this by planning ahead and making sure you establish the right safety measures and precautions before you begin your work. Below are some of the most essential safety precautions you should take when working on your home.

Only take on home improvement projects that you feel able to complete safely. There might be a job that is too high or too heavy for your expertise.
If you think you might end up over your head, do yourself a favor (and avoid catastrophically expensive mistakes) by hiring a professional. Keep a first aid kit handy in case of any accidents and keep all of your work away from and out of reach of children.  If you do think you can finish the job without any danger, read on.

Dress for the job. If needed, wear a hat or hardhat, safety glasses, work gloves and durable, practical clothing. Do not wear anything long or flow-y like scarves or jewelry that could catch on things and hurt you. Be sure to have safety glasses on hand to protect yourself during your home improvement when you do any chopping or striking or cutting of things. If you are working with noisy equipment, wear ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones to protect your hearing.

Always read all instructions for equipment or Do-It-Yourself information. Certain dusts and air particles that are released into the air during home improvement work can be toxic or harmful to your lungs so make sure to wear a dust mask if you think particles will be present. Make sure you know how to spot and take care of asbestos. (Learn more at: http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos. Another harmful home chemical that can reveal itself during renovations is lead-based paint which you can learn more about here: http://www2.epa.gov/lead.)

Know ladder safety! Make sure your ladder is resting on a flat, solid area. Use a ladder appropriate for your weight. Keep yourself steady on the ladder and don’t sway or lean to and fro. For every four feet of height on a ladder, the base of the ladder needs to be one foot away from the wall. Purchase quality tools and always keep the safety mechanisms intact.

Take excellent care of your tools because a tool that is not in good condition might be hazardous (electrocution and injury are risks when your tools need repair). Always make sure they are in working order and repair them if they are not.  Use tools for what they are designed for. Using a tool for something it is not meant to do leads to danger. Make sure your power tools are turned off before you plug them in so they do not blast on and cause an accident, and always turn all of your power equipment off and unplug it after your work is done for the day.

Know the laws of electricity and use extreme caution when handling and working with circuits. Make sure the space you are working in is organized and clean at all times, making it easier to spot errors or threats. Work slowly and carefully and remember that haste makes waste and often causes injuries. If you remember these top tips you and those nearby will stay safe while you make you home a better place.