How to Safely Perform Home Improvement Projects

As interest in home improvement projects increases, so do the number of accidents. Here are some tips to help you not become a home improvement injury statistic!

There have been plenty of home improvement shows on television lately, and couple that with a plethora of DIY advertisements and new stores, and it only makes sense that more and more people are tackling home improvement projects. However, as a recent Realty Times article discussed, with this increase, there has also been a steep rise in the number of home improvement-related injuries – with as many as 300,000 injuries occurring last year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Injuries will typically fall into three categories: preparations, tools, clean-up – and by following these simple rules, you’ll find that you’ll be able to significantly reduce the risk of injury.

Preparations & Tools

The key here is to plan and prepare in advance in order to make sure you have everything you need and are using the correct tools for the job. Read some advice on the job first – there are plenty of sources available online, such as hometips.com, hometime.com and thisoldhouse.com. Next, read the instructions of any new tools; make sure you know exactly how to use them! Wear the correct clothing, such as eye-goggles, something to keep loose hair tied up, long sleeves, pants and covered shoes.

Also, make sure the room is properly ventilated, especially if sanding or painting, and even then, wear a mask to avoid breathing in too much dust and other particles. Finally, be cognizant of electrical wires and pipes. Buy a stud-finder that includes a pipe and electrical wire finder to ensure you are not going to hurt yourself or your plumping, and if you are working near electricity, turn it off first!

Clean-up

Putting away all your tools in a safe, secure and dry place, after having cleaned them after use, will ensure that they perform as optimally as possible next time you use them, and will help keep them away from children and pets.

By following these suggestions, you’ll help protect yourself, your family and your home, and you’ll be one step closer to pulling off a successful home improvement!

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