Don’t Injure Yourself

For many people DIY is a hobby rather than a chore and the upsurge in television programmes on this topic has encouraged us to tackle more and more adventurous tasks. No more lazy Bank Holidays for some, it is out with the tools and equipment then on with that new shelf, wall or even conservatory! Unfortunately for around 70 people this year that DIY task will be the death of them.

Carelessness and lack of knowledge are the biggest problems. Many people work to the maxim “if at first you don’t succeed, then read the instructions”. Taking a few moments to read how equipment should be used, and checking out anything that has not been used for a while could save you months in hospital, if not save your life itself.

Follow these Simple Steps to Safety to ensure that satisfaction is all that you achieve from your endeavours:

• read the instructions on how to use equipment properly. "It’s dead easy" sometimes turns out to be “its easy to be dead”
• use the proper safety equipment. Many people think that it is too much bother or they are too “macho” - thoughts they often regret later
• don’t use electrical equipment in the rain or when it’s damp
• use a Residual Current Device (RCD)  with electrical equipment. This is a device that is intended to trip out an electricity supply in the event of a current flow to earth
• don’t use ladders that have defective feet, rungs, stiles (uprights) or are painted (this could hide a serious defect)
• a ladder should always be used on a firm base, locked into position and used front on to a wall, never side on
• tie ladders firmly into position or get a    responsible person to hold them. Keep both feet on a rung and never over reach. A few minutes to move them along will be a lot quicker than a trip to Casualty
• tidy as you go. A nail in its box isn’t likely to be  trodden on, nor a saw in its case likely to cut anyone

We really don’t think that it will happen to us, do we? Well, neither did the quarter of a million people who had a serious DIY accident last year. Don’t be one of them this year.

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