Gone are the days when you need to hire a tradesman to do every little job around your house or investment property.
People these days are releasing that most small jobs and even some large at home jobs can be done themselves, saving time and, more importantly, quite a bit of money.
You only need to look as far as T.V series such as DIY home renovation shows or home and garden shows which outline the important steps of both how and what is needed so average everyday people can get the job done themselves.
This, of course, depends on the skill level of the job and what you are capable of doing.
There are, of course, several jobs that we recommend you leave to the professionals and should never be attempted by anyone who is not qualified to complete that work. Trades such as electricians and plumbers, especially dealing with gas or sewer mains, should not even be questioned and always be dealt with in the correct manner by the correct person.
If you’re’ going to work on your dwelling, make sure you look out for these hazards.
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Foot Protection
When you’re’ working on your own home, it’s’ inevitable that you’re’ going to be lifting heavy objects. Objects that at any time could fall and cause damage to your feet. The weakest and most at-risk part of your feet is your toes. Toes can easily break or damage if large heavy tools or objects land on them.
How can you avoid this?
Wear the correct composite toe or steel toe boots. These boot designs offer protection to your feet and, in particular to your toes, offer a safety cap that covers your toes, so if any large objects should happen to fall, you’ll be covered.
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Potential Eye Damage
You don’t’ get second chances when dealing with your eyes. The eye is incredibly sensitive and requires the utmost protection when dealing with any work.
If the job involves the cutting of any metal, timber, or plastic, you must be sure to wear the correct type of eye protection.
This applies to all materials, but the cutting of metals is the most important. Hot metal filings and sparks, if they come in contact with the eyes, will cause serious damage and not just temporarily but can cause permanent damage to the surface of the eyeball.
Why is a metal such a hazard when it’s cut? All metals, because they are such hard materials, need a mixture of both heat and speed of the tool you’re’ using to cut shoot of hot fragments and can easily be shot into the direction of the eye.
Be sure to wear eyewear that not only covers the eye but also wraps around your head to stop potential hot filings from coming in from the side. Examples of these types of eyewear may include wrap-around goggles or specialized glasses that fully cover and include the sides of the eyes.
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Toxic Fumes
Although most of the time fumes can’t’ be seen, they are still incredibly dangerous to your health. You’ll’ find fumes when you’re’ working on jobs such as painting, spraying weeds, and everyday cleaning.
How can you avoid the dangers of fumes?
The first line of defense is to read what ingredients are in the product of substance you’re using. If you see unknown chemicals, especially if they have a toxic symbol next to them, be sure to get the correct type of masks or ventilation apparatuses. Masks are one line of protection that you should buy the best brands and styles of.
Breathing in toxins can not only create immediate damage to your lungs but, again, can cause long-term damage to your body.
Be sure to take special precautions when working in your own home and wear the correct types of protective equipment. This is one of the reasons why tradesmen get paid so much. They have to deal with these potential dangers on a daily basis and therefore know and account for these dangers.
Everything in life is negotiable except for your health, be prepared. You never know when something unexpected will happen, and if you’ve’ got the right workwear on, you’ll stand a better chance to escape the situation unharmed.
