If you are a beginner who is just starting to work with concrete for DIY project, there are certain safety guidelines that you should use. This will help avoid injuries that may occur to you or anybody else in the household. When it comes to construction projects, contractors take every care regarding their employees’ safety. They are given different safety equipment along with clothing.
Accidental injuries are one of the highest causes of death. We tend to disregard safety when we are carrying out something in our own homes. Whenever you are using new equipment or machine for your project, make sure that you read the instructions so you are completely aware of how to use the machine correctly. There are many YouTube tutorials that you can check on the correct use of machinery. We all tend to forget things and misplace items. But when you keep tools unattended around the house, they can be picked up by children. You may also walk over them by mistake causing injury to your foot. Sometimes you may leave tools unattended in high places like a roof or on top of a ladder and it can cause injuries if these items fall down.
You need to take care when you are lifting items. You should never lift more than you can bear. If you are lifting something like a pack of concrete or a large machine, you should ask for help. You need to keep the load closer to your body so that it is close to your centre of gravity. You should lift while your back is straight. You need to use your legs to lift a load. Your back shouldn’t be involved when lifting. You also need to check that the path you take while carrying the load is free of obstacles. If you are using a ladder in your project, you need to use some common safety tips when you use it. You need to face the ladder when you climb it and make sure that your hands are free. To do this, you need to keep tools in a tool belt.
There are different types of safety gear that you should use. When you are carrying out work on the roof or when working at high places, you should wear a safety helmet. This will protect your head from any falling objects. But you need to store the helmet carefully as well. It should not be left in direct sunlight. Eye protection is essential as there will be a lot of dust that will generate from your concrete project. It is also recommended to avoid wearing contact lenses as the dust and gasses that will be generated at the site can get under the lens and cause irritation. You should also use safety footwear that has steel toes or a hard rubber on the bottom so you can prevent punctures. Waterproof boots will keep your feet safe if you are working on the concrete itself. Safety gloves should be used so that your hands don’t come into contact with wet concrete. This can give rise to allergic contact dermatitis. If there is a lot of noise generated, you can wear ear protection.
