Safety First!/Safety 101 Tips

SAFETY FIRST! 
(Version en Español sigue)

Love working with Chris DeWolf - we are both nuts about safety!

SAFETY 101: 

So much to share, so much to tell you!  Paint, wood, design, recycling, and more – however, I would be doing a disservice to all if we didn’t start with Safety!  Or Safety First – This is the single one rule that can never be argued = either you are or you aren’t safe. 

Did you know?  Most DIY – Do It Yourself accidents happen in a home simply because the DIY-er didn’t keep safety in mind.  
Did you know? Most eye injuries that come into an emergency room are simply because the victim didn’t wear SAFETY glasses – not just glasses but, SAFETY glasses.

I could go on and on however, let’s get to the heart of the matter SAFETY!!  I share with you my basic Safety Rules. 

Carmen’s Safety Tips                                                                       

Safety is the single most important part to any project. Period. I am passionate about safety because I know – firsthand - most accidents happen due to carelessness with safety precautions and procedures.  SO, even BEFORE you get the tools running I’d love to share a few safety tips that I adhere to whenever and wherever I am doing my thing with power tools – for work or play – the rules don’t change…Safety FIRST!!! 

           Safety First - Always protect eyes, ears and respiration –

A.    Eyes:  Safety glasses are a minimum when tackling most projects. I often wear safety glasses AND a full face shield when behind a tool. You’d be surprised how minute particles can make their way right into your eye.  Not all safety glasses are made equal – select and use them as if you eyes depended on them – cause they DO!

B.    Ears:  Your hearing is one of the few things you can’t recover once damaged.  Safety Ear plugs or earmuffs should be used in more situations than you may consider – like mowing the lawn.  If the sound is louder than your speaking voice – you probably should be wearing ear protection.

C.     Respiration: Protecting your respiratory system during a project is as simple as using a respiratory mask.  Yes, different masks protect against different things.  Be sure to use the respiratory mask dedicated to the job your are doing AND be sure you are wearing it correctly so the respiratory mask can do it’s job and keep you safe.

Work Gloves:  Wearing work gloves is not meant for all occasions. Wear gloves only when necessary.  A good rule of thumb (no pun intended) - gloves with hand tools, no gloves with power tools.  Wearing gloves on work sights diminishes lacerations up to 60% - but, if worn with the wrong tool it can worsen an injury.

No Gloves:  Don’t wear gloves when working any cutting tool that has a rotating blade.  Get back to the thought of not having anything on that could get caught in the blade.  If a loose glove gets caught, it will pull the glove and your finger into the blade without you being able to pull it out.

Clothing:  No loose sleeves or fringes on any clothing…anything loose has the potential of being pulled into a tool or caught on a ladder rung – just to name a FEW!

Long Hair:  If you have long hair, tie it back – no hanging bangs.  Simply, you don’t want to have  anything on your body hanging where it may get caught up in a blade or drill bit or anything that has a mechanical motion.  I wear hats for many reasons – safety is the most important.  With a hat on and my hair tied back, I am always safe.

      Feet:  Feet must always be protected in a work zone (flip-flops never).  Exposed toes will get banged, poked or become a landing pad for something heavy – it never fails.  99.9% of all workshops and sets for TV & Film production hold very strictly to this rule. No shoes, no work or service! 

•      Shoes & Fatigue:  Being a woman who loves shoes – I learned early on  - wearing comfortable shoes and Kneepads will help conserve my energy and body while I work. Proper work wear go a long way to help prevent injury due to fatigue.  The first thing that will kill your stamina is the wrong shoes – make sure you are comfortable and they have the proper support.
•      Shoes: Wearing the wrong shoes can and will greatly impact your stamina and fatigue during a project.  Tight or uncomfortable shoes will effect aches and pains in your whole body. Be comfortable and wear the appropriate shoe for the task at hand.

      I can't say what I have shared about safety enough times – if you are safety conscious already – then, may this serve as a friendly reminder.  If you are getting started with DIY projects and being creative these are rules to be creative with!
   Stay tuned for more!  We'll be talking about paint next!  Once one conquers paint  - the possibilities are endless!