Power tool safety tips
One of the most enjoyable parts of being a DIYer and tackling home improvement projects is the opportunity it provides to have your own personal collection of power tools. As you start each job you may find yourself looking for any excuse to purchase a new drill, saw, or sander – even if you already have a similar model and there’s a good chance the new tool may only be used one time. Of course it’s easy to rationalize that this particular tool is a little different than those already sitting in your workshop and if you ever need to use it again, it’s already a part of your collection.
As you browse the power tool isles at your local home improvement store or surf the tool websites at night looking at all the selections, it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t that long ago that power tools were just a dream – everything was built by hand and a project that takes you a week to complete might have taken a month or longer back when your great-grandparents were DIYers.
Make Safety a Priority
Power tools provide a great convenience and can save a lot of time and effort on your project, but it’s extremely important to remember that they can also cause serious injuries when not used correctly or if you lower your guard for just a moment. Hitting your thumb with a hammer can hurt and a finger sliced by a handsaw may bleed, but those are minor when compared to the injuries you can suffer when using a power circular saw, mitre saw, or nail gun. A few general safety tips to remember when using power tools:
- Safety Glasses – just because you have two eyes doesn’t mean you have one to spare – always wear eye protection designed for that purpose when using power tools. All it takes is one tiny piece of wood, metal, or other debris in the eye to impair or cause loss of your vision
- Ear Protection – it may detract from your tough DIY image to wear ear plugs or another type of protection while using power tools, but 20 years from now you’ll wish you had
- Concentration – always pay attention to what you’re doing when using power tools. Planning what you’re going to eat for dinner or which movie you’re going to watch later can wait – before you pull the trigger on that power tool you need to know where your hands are in relation to the tool, if the material you’re working with is properly supported, and whether there are any knots or old nails in the material you’re getting ready to cut, drill, or sand.
- Loose Clothing – this applies mainly to shirts but depending on the power tool you’re using may also affect your trousers – wear clothing that won’t get caught up in the tool when you’re using it
- Tool Condition – most power tools have safety devices such as guards or brakes to protect you when the tool is in use. Always read the tool instructions thoroughly and know whether the safety devices are working properly before using the tool – they’re there for a reason. It can also be a good idea to give the tool and its power cord a quick inspection before using it if it has been sitting on a shelf in your workshop.
Most power tool safety tips are just a matter of using good common sense and not rushing through a job. Using power tools can be a lot of fun and make just about any home improvement project a little easier, but always remember to treat your tools with respect. All it takes is a moment’s inattention to cause a serious injury that may put your DIY plans on hold for a while.