POWER TOOL SAFETY 101
Getting started on any new DIY project is always exciting but preparation is key to ensure the best possible outcome and there is nothing more important than being safe while you work. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY’er or completely new to tools, Andy & Candy have a few power tool safety tips to keep you safe and comfortable while you work!
PREPARE YOURSELF
Let’s look at the things you want to protect – your eyes, ears, hands and lungs. There’s a variety of safety glasses, ear protection, gloves and masks to suit different types of tools and different DIY jobs so make sure you check the manual of you tool. A basic safety kit will help you out for a lot of general tasks around the home and garden.
Protect your eyes with safety glasses from flying debris and you can grab ear muffs or ear plugs for loud tools. Depending on the tool, gloves can add extra grip and protect your hands from rough materials with an added bonus of keeping your hands clean.
Loose clothing, long hair and jewellery can get caught in the moving parts of your power tools so it’s always best to make sure any loose clothing is tucked in and hair tied back away from your tools. Wearing closed footwear is recommended for most of your DIY projects and when working with heavy materials and cutting tools it may be worth checking out some specialised safety workwear.
READ UP & PLAN AHEAD
Buying a new tool is exciting, it can be tempting to take your new purchase straight out of the box and put it to work immediately. Before you do, make sure you give your instruction manual a quick read. They provide valuable information to help keep you safe as well as tips to get you started.
Before you get stuck into that cool project, take a minute to think through what is going to be happening and check that you have all of the tools, materials and accessories that you will need to finish the project. If you are missing something, just skip on down to your local Bunnings Warehouse to grab it. It’s a little frustrating to be in full DIY swing and then realise there’s a screw missing.
KEEP IT CLEAN & WELL VENTILATED
A messy or dirty work space can create a few potential hazards. From the risk of tripping to the increased chance of fire, clutter can create chaos. Only set up the essentials you need on your workbench to keep your space as clean and tidy as possible. A handy feature is that most of our power tools will connect to dust extraction so you can clean away debris while you work!
Think about ventilation to make sure any dust, debris and paint fumes will clear away but your space isn’t too breezy for working to become problematic.
CLOSE UP
Keep a comfortably close stance to your power tool. This will help you maintain control over the product while you work. If you’re unsure, do a few practise run throughs of how you’ll hold the tool and where or what it will be doing before you turn it on. This can help show if the material is clamped in the right spot or if there will be any challenges before you get started.
SECURE YOUR PROJECT
Clamping the workpiece firmly to the bench means that you can use both hands to control the tool, and the better the control you have on the tool, the better the outcome. Two clamps is good, but three is best if you can find three points to fix to.
These are just a few key points to get started. Find more content from DIY with Andy & Candy here.