Chapter 2
Your Most Important Tool: The Safety Drill
In This Chapter
• Seven habits of intact DIY-ers
• What gear you’ll need to stay safe when working on your house
• Ladder safety, top to bottom
• How to set your own limits, and hire a pro when you need one
Okay, so you just bought a house, and a slew of new tools, and you’re ready to fix everything that seems to be ailing your new digs.
Not so fast. You’ve got one more little investment to make, and that’s the insurance you provide for your own personal safety. I’m not talking about your homeowner’s policy, but the commonsense rules you follow when you work on your house.
A few years ago, I wanted to expand my DIY know-how and signed up for a course in carpentry. I was eager to learn, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on some of the terrific tools that make renovation and improvement easier to do myself. Before the course ever started, the school sent me a list of safety equipment to bring and use. And when my classmates and I arrived, our teachers sat us down for a discussion of self-protection and good work habits. Their guidance was invaluable to my class, and to any beginner do-it-yourselfer who wants to stay safe.
I’ve used the equipment I brought, and the rules I learned, ever since. Except for a couple of minor scrapes and bruises, the knowledge has served me well. I’ll share it here.
Good Safety Habits
Basically, there are seven things to keep in mind when you work on your home. Think of them as the seven habits of intact DIY-ers:
1. Choose the right wardrobe. When you work with tools, don’t wear anything that can get tangled up in your work. Leave off the bracelets, earrings, and anything that dangles. If you have long hair, tie it back or wear it up, or under a cap or bandanna.
Wear comfortable work clothes. If you are working with something dusty, or something that makes debris, cover up!
Sturdy shoes that cover your feet, with non-slip soles, will help prevent injury. Never wear sandals or flip-flops; they’re an invitation to hazards like splinters and dropped tools—ow!
Ounce of Prevention
Sturdy shoes are good, but steel- or titanium-toed work boots are better. Spring for a pair and you won’t have to worry about broken toes. These industrial-strength boots are available in men’s and women’s sizes. My friend Siobhan, who installed all the siding on her 4,000-square-foot house, put pink shoe laces in her steel-toed footwear for a feminine touch! She keeps the ends of the laces tucked in to prevent tripping.
2. Make sure your tools are clean and in good repair. Inspect the cords of power tools and extension cords for signs of wear. Never work with damaged equipment.
3. Wear your safety gear. The goggles and earplugs will do nothing to protect your eyes and your hearing if you leave them in your bag. Carry and use your safety equipment, every time!
4. Check your attitude. Don’t tackle a job if you’re feeling tired, rushed, or upset. You’re setting yourself up to lose focus, and that’s when accidents happen.
5. Take a break every couple of hours. If you need a breather, hang out with your family, kids, or pets away from the worksite. Chit-chat can be distracting while you’re working on something, so save the socializing for your timeout.
6. Keep your worksite organized and clean. Protect nonwork areas from debris with drop cloths and/or newspaper. Carefully follow the directions for any chemicals or compounds you are using; if they say “make sure the area is well-ventilated,” open the windows!
7. When you need one, ask a friend to help. If you’re working on a ladder that needs holding, or just need an extra pair of hands, make sure you’ve got the assistance you need.
Lastly, trust your gut! If a little voice inside your head says, “Maybe this job is just too much for me,” listen. Better to pay a pro than the bill from the E.R.
Safety Gear: The Basics
Here’s a rhyming couplet to remember:
Eyes, ears, nose,
Fingers and toes!
Fingers and toes!
When you finish a repair job, you want to keep all those parts I’ve just mentioned!
Safety gear: don’t start a job without it!
Good safety goggles are not designed for high fashion, but to protect your eyes and their socket area from injury. They are usually made of high-quality plastic and won’t shatter when hit; they’ll also protect eyes from spilled or airborne liquids. Make sure the pair you use gives good coverage. Some styles use conventional earpieces, just like eyeglasses or sunglasses; others are secured by elastic. Just make sure the pair you select fits, and stays on when you’re looking up, down, and side-to-side.
What Pros Know
At a certain age, most people need glasses to magnify close work, such as reading fine print, attaching/detaching jewelry clasps, and discerning the details of a home repair. Instead of wearing your reading glasses under goggles, which can feel uncomfortable and appear awkward, look for a pair of safety goggles equipped with magnifying lenses; these make the goggles look like bifocals. These specialized glasses are made by at least one major manufacturer of work safety equipment, in varying strengths (1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and so forth). If you can’t find them in your local hardware/home center, check Appendix B for a source.
Hearing loss is a progressive ailment; it results from long-term exposure to high levels of noise. Foam earplugs or safety earmuffs should be used in noisy work environments—when power tools or other loud equipment is in use. It isn’t necessary, but I also like to wear my safety earmuffs when I’m using any equipment that makes noise I don’t like—the vacuum cleaner, for instance. Even though I haven’t seen any evidence that proves vacuum noise can hurt your hearing long-term, it makes the experience more pleasant for me!
Wearing a mask, also called a respirator, to avoid inhaling dust or chemical-laden fumes is always a good idea. In order to get the right mask, you need to read the manufacturer’s label. Depending on the products you are working with, you will need differing amounts of protection. Masks are labeled for the kinds of dust and fumes they filter.
There are several different types of disposable masks, which are the economical choice unless you are working repeatedly with materials that produce particles or fumes you don’t want to breathe. If you’re doing a lot of work that requires protecting your lungs, then it might be more budget-wise to buy a reusable respirator, which has replaceable filters, rather than a large quantity of disposable masks.
A pair of sturdy work gloves in a heavyweight fabric—canvas, leather, or one of the rugged new synthetic fabrics—will protect your hands when you’re carrying materials that could splinter or irritate your hands in some other way. Unless you lose them, a good pair can last a lifetime. Rubber gloves will protect your hands from prolonged exposure to liquid, and a tight-fitting pair of surgical-style latex gloves can protect your skin from irritants often found in certain paints, adhesives, and other repair compounds. (If you’re allergic to latex, use a different type of tight-fitting glove to protect your hands.)
As discussed in the previous section, wear appropriate, sturdy footwear to protect your toes!
Ounce of Prevention
Not all safety masks are created equal. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sets standards for workplace safety equipment. When a product is labeled “NIOSH approved,” it means that the mask meets certain workplace standards for the process and/or material (painting, drywall, fiberglass) indicated.
The Job Site
If you can set up, work, and finish your repair in a day, the seven habits of intact DIY-ERS should be enough rules to keep you safe.
For projects of longer duration, remember the following:
• Train your kids, your pets, your elders—anyone who’s not working with you—to keep away from a work site unless they’re invited to observe. You can show them what you’re up to when you’re on a break.
• Repair materials and tools should be safely stored away whenever you finish for the day. If toxic materials like paint and solvents or power tools are being used, keep them out of reach of children or pets, even when you just step away for a couple of minutes.
• Drop cloths and spread-out newspaper can be slippery for other members of your household who are not dressed for the work; pick them up and sweep at the end of a repair session. Replace the protective coverings when you start the next day (or the next weekend).
This may seem logical to most readers, but sometimes an extra step for safety—securing tools and materials just in case a child or pet may get curious, or carefully picking up just in case someone’s not paying attention—seems like too much work to others. Making a mistake that someone you love might have to pay for is just too high a price.
Be safe, not sorry.
The Ups and Downs of Ladder Safety
When you have jobs in tall places, a ladder is a terrific help. But be careful! According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), more than half a million people wind up in emergency rooms every year because of mishaps with ladders. Don’t become another statistic. Follow these tips to stay safe.
Choosing a Ladder
Safety begins when you choose your ladder. Most people start with a stepladder that’s good for indoor jobs, and some outdoor work as well.
• Materials: Wood is traditional, but subject to rot and weathering. Aluminum is lightweight, but metal is not good for working around electricity. Fiberglass is the current preference of professionals; it is versatile, lightweight, and sturdy, but more expensive than either wood or aluminum.
Ounce of Prevention
When you buy a stepladder, there will usually be a sticker on the pail shelf that says “This is not a step,” and one on the step below the top of the ladder that says “Do not stand above this step.” Take these cautions seriously. If you need to climb higher, you’ll need a taller ladder.
• Height: If you have standard, 8-foot ceilings, a 5-foot stepladder will probably be fine for any indoor task, and a lot of outdoor work, too. For stepladders, the ladder’s height plus 4 feet equals the height limit you can achieve.
• Strength: Ladders have a duty rating—the amount of weight they can carry—established by the American National Safety Institute. Type 1A extra heavy duty carries up to 300 pounds; Type I heavy duty will carry 250 pounds; Type II medium duty 225 pounds; and Type III light duty 200 pounds. Err on the side of a heavier rated model when you’re in doubt as to which model to choose.
Using a Ladder
Safe ladder use means taking a few steps in the right direction:
• Don’t wear leather soles; they’re slippery. And tie your shoelaces securely. Likewise, don’t wear baggy pants or loose clothing that could catch on the sides of a ladder or nearby obstructions.
• Inspect your ladder before you use it. Check it for any loose screws, hinges, or rungs. Clean off any dirt, grease, or dried spills. If the ladder has defects that can’t be fixed, replace it.
• Place the ladder on a firm, level surface. Don’t place a ladder on uneven ground, or prop up with bricks or other small items under the legs.
• Climb or descend with your hands on the side rails, not on the treads.
• Never position a ladder in front of a door that opens in the direction of the ladder unless the door is locked, blocked, or guarded on the other side. If you’re working while other household members are moving around, put some tape and a sign across the door frame on the inside so they don’t accidentally open it and topple you!
• Don’t stretch—move the ladder instead. Reaching or leaning too far to either side of the ladder can make you lose your balance and fall. The AAOS has a good guideline: your bellybutton should not go beyond the sides of the ladder!
• Move things with caution; if you’re cleaning out closet or garage shelves, always keep the load in your arm small enough that it doesn’t throw you off balance. Push and pull things carefully.
• Get help if you need it. If you feel the least bit wobbly, have someone hold the ladder. And two people should never be on the ladder at the same time.
When you’re outside, you may need to use an extension ladder if you have tall gutters or need to reach an outside light to replace it. Learn additional rules of using long ladders in Chapter 19.
Keep your body centered on the ladder.
Don’t lean far outside the rails of the ladder. It’s easy to lose your balance in this position.
Knowing Your Limits: When to Call a Pro
Some people like to try everything; others know what they’re good at, and only occasionally stray into unfamiliar territory. Only you know your own degree of risk tolerance for DIY tasks. You may really like working on walls and floors—all those nice, solid things—but go queasy at the idea of clearing the gunk-clogged trap under the kitchen sink.
It’s best to start your DIY career with those jobs that you feel comfortable and safe doing. As you build your confidence, you can tackle more things.
Here are three questions to ask yourself before you try doing a new kind of repair:
• Do I have the time?
• Do I have the tools—or can I get them easily?
• Do I have the skill?
The tasks in this book are not large ones; they require only small amounts of labor, tools, and know-how. This is, after all, a guide to simple home repairs. But if any jobs in this book make you hesitate for more than a few minutes after reading the instructions, or if you have to answer “no” to any of the three questions listed above, then you’re probably right to call in the pro.
And should you call the handyman, the plumber, or the electrician, watch him or her do the job. You may learn something you’ll be able to do yourself—next time.
The Least You Need to Know
• Eyes, ears, nose, fingers, and toes all need protection when you work.
• Tackle repairs when you’re rested and calm; working when you’re tired or stressed invites accidents.
• When on a ladder, stay centered; when you need to lean out to reach what you’re after, it’s time to move the ladder.
• Know thyself! Make your first home repairs the ones you feel most comfortable with. Success begets confidence.
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