A little on safety

Hello again to my faithful followers (we're up to three!). I thought I would write a little today about job safety. It has been said that safety is no laughing matter (Just ask my friend, old nine fingered Rick from Fairfield). Personally, I think you can find humor in just about everything (Its just not always tasteful).

As times get tougher for us all, people tend to take on more than they may be capable of in terms of home repair and remodeling efforts. It has also been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that pertains to this topic as well.

Those who take on the projects that may be a bit overwhelming usually do get them done eventually. And along the way they tend to learn from their mistakes. Easy enough if your mistake meant that you cut a piece of plywood wrong, or improperly calculated how much paint you will need.

However, if your mistake causes any injury to yourself or anyone else, it can cause financial and or emotional devastation, or even worse; It can cause the loss of life.
When safety is involved, it is advised to use common sense in making judgements, right? The trouble with that is that common sense just isn't as common as it should be.

I work with experienced carpenters still to this day whom I catch "pinning the guard" on a skill saw, using the drill without the screw on torque handle attached, or just leaving old boards around the job site with nails still protruding.

There are far too many potential scenarios to cover in one short blog, but be advised to keep your eyes open to all manner of dangerous situations you may potentially run into during the course of your particular project.

Don't fail to take necessary safety precautions because you are working in the privacy of your own home. Cover up holes in the floor, secure the doors to a deck if you have in any way compromised the integrity of the structure.

Always make sure that you and all occupants can get safely out in case of fire, and keep a fire extinguisher handy for all phases of your project. Also know where the main electrical panel as well as the gas and water supply valves are located and know how to turn them off prior to starting any project, whether or not you think it related.

In addition to planning your project, make an effort to plan your safety precautions as well. There is a lot at stake here, so take your time and take the time you need to do it safely.

That's all for now, Rob