by Larry Angell
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Staying safe in a hazardous environment concerns all of us in one way or another. We could choose not to go into any such environment, but most of the time we create that kind of environment around ourselves. There are a lot of obvious things that we're all aware of. For instance, we know not to step on the top rung of a stepladder or that we should always wear eye protection while using power tools that throw fragments. I won't beat that drum because we all know it well. |
Growing up on a farm with all the farming equipment and later working in a sawmill for twelve years taught me that machines don't respect flesh, so flesh needs to respect machinery.
IMPORTANT ! KEEP COOL - The most obvious point is also the key point. Here are some ideas which you may find useful:
Dress right. Loose-fitting clothes let persperation evaporate freely. Light colors reflect heat away from your body.
Wash your hands and face often with cool water. Bathe, shower or swim in cool water. (A hot shower will heat up your house as well as your body.)
Fix cool meals which do not need to be heated on the stove.
Do not use appliances or lights unless they are necessary.
Use fans to improve air circulation.
Use shades and blinds to keep out direct sunlight.
DRINK WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS - As you perspire to cool your body, you will need to replace fluids which you have lost. Unless your doctor places you on a fluid-restricted diet, you should drink at least as much as your body seems to need. If you are active, don't wait to feel thirsty; drink plenty of water and fruit juices from the outset. Dehydration may develop quite suddenly, particularly during hard work or exercise.
Some of the worst accidents have come from a lack of respect for machinery. There are usually two common reasons for the lack of respect for machines; this includes things like power tools as well. They are: Lack of knowledge and Fatigue.
The lack of knowledge needs to be mentioned because I often see people using tools in a way that make them dangerous. We all need to be trained on the more dangerous tools so we don't become a bad safety example. I love power tools of all kinds, operating heavy equipment, and playing with all the big-people toys out there. Luckily, I still have all my fingers and toes after all these years of work and play.
Fatigue is what I'm really talking about here though. Learning to use tools and equipment safely is just a given, but we often dismiss fatigue as a hazard. In my modern day job as a Digital Communications Specialist, I often have to set up satellite systems on roofs. My hazards are Gravity and Electricity. I have respect for both, but after all my years of experience around dangerous equipment, I know that as my level of fatigue increases, my level of caution and concern for safety decreases.
When we become exhausted the potential for accidents goes up.
Construction workers, manufacturing workers, and utility workers all know this fact very well. I try to teach this to homebuilders and do-it-yourselfers as well because many of them are first time builders and they don't know about all the hazards.
We all get tired and we can take small breaks to rest up, but exhaustion is where our physical and mental selves become impaired. When we reach that point, we need to back away from the project and get some rest. We can take it back up another day.
It's important to be safe because injuries are painful and expensive. They are also preventable.
Larry Angell
About the author:
Larry Angell is actively involved in helping people with low incomes find and secure nice homes. Most homes can be built for less than half the cost if the owner does the labor. Larry is the Author of SWEAT EQUITY, building a house at half cost. He runs an instructional website that teaches how to build homes that are strong financial tools, not financial burdens.
www.make-my-own-house.com