Safety Tips When Handling Hand and Power Equipment
Hand and power equipment are everyday tools, whether at home DIY improvement tasks or construction projects. However, you may find most people overlooking the hazards these tools may pose when mishandled. To avoid these accidents, it's essential to be aware of the potential hazards and take the necessary precautions. At Stoneham's Motorsports, we’ve compiled the list below of some tips when handling hand and power tools. To learn more, visit our location in Waynesboro and Everett, Pennsylvania, serving Hagerstown, Maryland, and Bedford, Pennsylvania.
Use Personal Protective Equipment
It would be best to use personal protective equipment as the first precaution whenever using hand and power equipment. A pair of safety glasses are ideal for protecting your eyes from debris shavings, dust, and fiberglass. Similarly, a pair of earplugs are essential in protecting your ears from loud noises of the tools. Protect your hands with a fitting pair of gloves that allows sufficient finger movement and if you’re working at heights, be sure to have your helmet on.
Dress Right
Always dress right for the job and avoid putting on loose-fitting clothing and jewelry. Take anything loose off, and if your hair is long, tie it at the back of your head. Also, ensure you wear non-slip boots for the job.
Educate Yourself
Read through the user manual to better handle the power equipment with utmost precision. If done wrongly, these tools can be catastrophic to the user; therefore, the manual is usually included for a reason. More so, it provides the essential safety and troubleshooting information to reduce risks of injury.
Inspect Your Tools Regularly
The constant use of the tools eventually causes wear and tear. Even if they’re new, routinely inspecting your tools will go a long way in keeping you safe. Inspect the hand and power tools for exposed wiring, damaged plugs, breakage, and loose cracks. If damaged, avoid using the tools by all means; otherwise, you’ll be getting yourself in the way of impending danger.
Clean Your Work Area
Ensure your work area is kept clean at all times. An unkempt working area is by itself a safety hazard. Therefore, clean up by removing tangled cords on the floor, ensure the power tools are kept away from flammable liquids, and finally, ensure all master switches, starter keys are away from the reach of children.
Turn off the Tools After Use
Avoid leaving your power tools while plugged in by all means. Doing so will help avert accidents for anyone who may not realize the tools are powered. Always turn off, unplug, secure and store the tools in their original casing, and again, ensure out of reach of children.
We hope these tips are helpful to you when handling hand and power equipment. To learn more, contact Stoneham's Motorsports today, and visit our location in Waynesboro and Everett, Pennsylvania, serving Hagerstown, Maryland, and Bedford, Pennsylvania.