Safety Tips for Handymen
Performing the job of a handyman comes with several inherent safety risks. Whether you are replacing a burnt-out light or repairing a broken door, ensuring that you are taking adequate precautions to protect yourself is imperative. Let’s explore some essential safety tips that handymen should adopt to help keep themselves safe and avoid injuries.
Wear Proper Protective Gear
The first thing all handymen should do before starting any project is make sure that they have the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This may include safety goggles, glasses, hard hats, boots, gloves, earplugs, and masks. When worn correctly, PPE can protect handymen from severe injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that the PPE meets the industry-specific standards created by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In addition to wearing PPE, it is also important that handymen wear properly fitting clothing to avoid the possibility of loose or ill-fitted clothing getting caught on a machine or piece of equipment.
Inspect Your Work Space and Equipment
The next important step that handymen should take is to inspect their workspace and equipment. You will want to make sure that your work area is clean, organized, and free from any potential dangers. Make sure that your work area is not cluttered and that you can easily maneuver around the workspace while working. Next, you will want to inspect the condition of your tools and equipment. You will want to make sure that they are all working properly and that you are familiar with how to operate them. The improper use of tools can result in a serious work injury that may require the intervention of a Los Angeles work injury attorney to help you with the legal process.
Take Breaks
Another step that all handymen should take to ensure their safety and well-being is to take regular breaks. If you are fatigued while working, this can greatly impair your decision-making and judgment, therefore increasing the likelihood of an accident occurring. Therefore, all handymen should take breaks, especially when working long days or on strenuous tasks. During breaks, you will want to make sure that you are drinking enough fluids to avoid dehydration, as well as eating to nourish your body with nutrients and energy. Most importantly, listen to your body and don’t push yourself beyond your limits.
Ladder Safety
Ladders are commonly used by handymen when working at tall heights, and ensuring the proper usage of them is vital in preventing falls and injuries. First, you will want to make sure that the ladder is set on stable ground with the locks engaged to make sure that it won’t tip over. Next, pay attention to the ladder’s weight capacity and make sure that it will not be exceeded. Then, you will want to make sure that you have at least three points of contact with the ladder at all times to avoid losing balance. Lastly, never stand on the top rung of the ladder as this is extremely dangerous and unstable.
