June is National Safety Month, and here are five good tips from the Home Builders Institute to keep yourself out of the ER:
• Use a ladder properly. Check for defects and loose or bent rungs before each use. Never carry equipment or supplies up or down a ladder.
• Prevent eye injury. Safety glasses, goggles or full-face shields should be used when there is a possibility of splashing chemicals or flying dust.
• Wear a hard hat and gloves, when appropriate. Hard hats should be worn when there’s a possibility something might fall on you or you might hit your head. Gloves should be worn when working with chemicals or doing yard work, but not with tools that have a spinning or twisting blade or bit — the gloves could get caught.
• Store power tools properly. Unplug the tool or remove the battery, and remove any bits prior to storage. On portable electric saws, blades should be retracted and guards in place.
• Clean up your dusty work area. Wear an N-95 dust mask (it filters 95 percent of airborne particles) and use a vacuum and wet mop. Remember that dust particles in sufficient quantity can be combustible.
