Editing Health and safety in the shop or garage
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Garage and Shop Safety One of the things over looked by many is safety: The first rule is to pay attention to what one is doing as many accidents and injuries are caused by lack of attention to what is going on around the individual. Note: It is not intended to have this be comprehensive article but it is to be used as a source of links to various articles on safety and a source of information as to means and methods that are useful in the home shop or garage.. == Eye and hearing protection== Always wear safety glasses when using any tool with a Z-87 rating . Corrective glasses and sunglasses are not an acceptable substitute. If wearing corrective glasses then wear safety glasses designed to fit around them or invest in a pair of prescription safety glasses. When grinding, use a full face shield. OSHA standard for eye and face protection: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9778 Ear plugs and muffs are a must when working with loud tools like grinders, saws, routers, etc. People often overlook hearing protection because the damage is not immediately known and often occurs slowly over several years. Once hearing has been impaired there is no way to reverse the damage. Protect your hearing now and thank yourself later. OSHA standard for occupational noise exposure: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735 == Respiratory protection == Respiratory protection is probably overlooked more often than eye and ear protection, yet is every bit as important. There are many jobs around the garage in which some form of respirator or mask should be used. These include but are not limited to painting, welding, grinding, sandblasting, solvent tanks and insulation handling (especially when it contains asbestos). Respirators are often found in two basic styles, full face and half face. These should be chosen based on the level of exposure that is anticipated. Generally speaking, a half face respirator should be sufficient for most at home projects. When spraying paint occasionally, it is recommended to at least use a half face respirator with a double filtration. The outer should stop dust particles, and the inner should be a cartridge filter, charcoal type that absorbs fumes. This will greatly reduce your chances of inhaling harmful fumes and/or dust. When spraying more than occasionally, the recommended protection is forced air or remote type system. Follow the MSDS and/or instructions that come with your material that you are working with. Web site for respirators: http://ehso.com/RespProtectionTypes.htm == Lifting and handling heavy parts == Lifting and moving parts around the garage/shop can get to be a real pain (in the lower back). A quality, well built engine hoist will work well for moving heavy parts such as engines, transmissions and axles. An overhead hoist or gantry can work well for lifting a frame or even removing the body off a car. It is important to use the right lifting gear for the job. Though this has been done more times than can be counted, using a 3/8" grade 3 bolt and a chain is not the safe way to move heavy items like an engine. If at all possible use some sort of lifting fixture to lift the engine. Using a set like those found on a factory installed engine works well and combined with a high quality chain with hooks on each end will provide a much more secure way of lifting or transporting an engine. Other heavy or awkward objects like axles or automotive bodies should be moved with high quality nylon (or even kevlar) straps that are free from cuts, frays or tears. Do not wrap the straps around sharp objects or edges in order to prevent damage to the straps and possible loss and damage to the load. If wrapping around sharp edges cannot be avoided then place a layer (or several layers) of material such as heavy cloth or canvas between the item being lifted and the strap. Try to refrain from working under heavy objects. When this can't be avoided be sure to firmly support it. When working under a vehicle that has to be jacked up be sure to support the weight with jack stands or ramps designed to support the weight of the vehicle. Do not use the jack as the sole means of support. Always work on a solid, level surface and block the wheels to ensure the vehicle doesn't roll or fall off the supports. == Ladders and climbing == == Working with rotating equipment == Contrary to popular belief, it is best to leave the gloves off when working with items like bench grinders, drill presses, pumps or other rotating machinery. When gloves are worn the risk of having your hand snagged by the rotating element increases as will the chance of losing a finger or hand. The glove gives the machine something to grab on to and will not let go of very easily. While a bare hand can still be drawn in, it is usually much easier to remove from the machine when this happens. Do not tamper with safety devices. If the machine has a guard installed, do not remove it. The inconvenience of losing a hand or finger is far worse than having to spend a few extra minutes to complete the job. It is better to lose some skin than to lose a finger. == MSDS -- What are they? == Material Safety Data Sheets are summaries of the chemical properties of any material. Employers are required to have them availble for any material they use, and manufacturers and distributors will generally include them when they ship a product. MSDS's are meant for people working with the material in an occupational fashion. For example, an MSDS for paint is not highly pertinent to someone who uses a can of paint once a year, but is extremely important to someone who does this in a confined space 40 hours a week. Serious hobbyists who use materials regularly should consult the MSDS. Where to Find Material Safety Data Sheets. http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ http://www.ilpi.com/msds/#What == Chemical handling == Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be chosen properly when working with various chemicals. Standard fare when dealing with a majority of chemicals should include safety goggles (minimum, a face shield or both used together is better), apron, and protective gloves that protect the hands and forearms, and possibly even a respirator. PPE should be chosen carefully to ensure compatibility with the type of chemical being used. Do not use thinners or solvents to clean your hands or other body parts. Solvents and thinners do soak through your skin and into your blood stream. Many solvents and thinners are very toxic and could cause severe irritations, sickness or death.
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