3 Hand Tool Safety Tips

May 12, 2016

Now that the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing many of us are pulling out our tool belts and preparing our latest home improvement projects. While that is a wonderful way to add value and comfort to your home, home improvement projects can be dangerous if not properly executed. May is National Hand Tool Safety Month. In honor of it, here are a few hand tool safety tips so you can make your house beautiful without harming yourself:

1. Good Grip and Clean Hands

For hand tools such as wrenches, knives, and hammers you will want a good grip so they do not fall out of your hands when working or slip through your fingers when you are working with dangerous materials such as electrical wiring. Be sure to purchase tools with rubber or rubber-like handles.

You should also make sure you have relatively clean hands when working. They do not need to be sparkling but you should keep a handkerchief on your person so they are debris-free at all times.

2. Eye Protection

Always, always, always wear eye protection when working with tools. I know it seems silly to get goggles when you just want to hammer a nail but it can be dangerous if you do not use proper eyewear. Safety glasses can be worn but when working with tools, especially power tools I prefer to use goggles so debris like sawdust does not get into my eye and possible materials (nails, hand tools themselves, etc.) do not hurt my vision if they fall or slip. You may also want to wear further face protection depending on the materials you are working with for a project. If you are working on a project with a lot of debris (such as insulation) you should cover your nose and face so you do not inhale the debris, which can cause coughing, throat and chest pain, and serious respiratory issues.

3. Skin Protection

Be sure to protect your skin when you are working inside your home as well as outside. You can do this by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants and you can also wear sunscreen if you are working outside. The clothing will help cover your skin from any debris or possible mistakes with hand tools or raw materials. The sunscreen is just a good idea to keep your skin from being damaged by the sun.