DIY SAFETY Position a ladder correctly. The ladder should be at a 75° angle from the ground or floor. That means about one foot between the bottom of the wall and the base of the ladder for every four feet of ladder height. Also: Reposition your ladder rather than lean or reach far to one side. If you use your ladder to climb onto a roof: The top of the ladder should extend at least three feet beyond the roof’s edge. You don’t want to have to stand on the ladder’s top two rungs, because you will be too close to the wall to maintain your balance. Protect your hands. Every home owner should own one or two pairs of heavy cloth or leather gloves. Helpful: Hand injuries that occur during home repairs often involve the nondominant hand. We would see fewer patients in the ER if, for example, right-handed people would keep their left hands out of the way when using power tools. Wear special protective eyewear whenever you’re using a tool that could send debris into your eye. Read the manual. Know how your tools work before plugging them in. Never work in a risky location when you’re alone. If you’re on the roof or in a difficult-to-negotiate attic, you could fall, get seriously injured and need someone to help. At the very least, carry a portable phone in your pocket in case you need to call for help. Turn off the main power when working with electricity. Don’t just turn off a switch -- someone could flip it on when you aren’t looking. Wear appropriate footwear, such as boots or sneakers. No sandals.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:52:49 +0000
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