Editing Health and safety in the shop or garage
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{{youcanedit}} [[Image:wood_jointer_vs_finger.jpg|thumbnail|right|350px|A finger severed in a wood jointer. ''Do you have a photo of a garage/shop injury? Please [[Special:Upload | upload it to the wiki]].'']] Safety is overlooked by many. The first rule of safety: Pay attention to what you're doing. Many accidents and injuries are caused by lack of attention to what is going on. == Eye protection== Corrective glasses and sunglasses are not an acceptable substitute for safety glasses. If wearing corrective glasses, then wear safety glasses designed to fit around them, or invest in a pair of prescription safety glasses. In America, the national government standard for eye protection is ANSI Z-87.1 Make sure your safety glasses carry this designation. When grinding, use a full face shield. While safety glasses and full-faced shields are acceptable in many situations, sometimes they are not enough. Safety glasses that completely fill the gap between the face and the lens are sometimes needed. Rust, hot metal grindings, slag, and abrasives (like sand and dirt) can literally ricochet off your cheek, then bounce off the inside of the safety glasses and embed themselves into your eyes. ===Eye protection tips=== *Eyebrows, hair, and hats can all hold debris that can get into and damage your eyes. Clean your "above the eyes" area on your body before removing your safety glasses. *When showering after grinding, close your eyes while you wash your face thoroughly. *Turn around the bill of your hat, because it can hold debris, or redirect it into your eye. *Be careful of debris on anything that will be lifted over your eyes (like a ladder). *When working under potential debris (like when working under a car), don't remove your safety glasses, for example, to wipe the dust off. *Use the proper filter lens shade for the job. UV light can cause a number of vision problems, including deadly cancerous eyelid tumors and blindness. ===Arc flash=== *Also known as "arc eyes", "flash burn", "snow blindness", "ultraviolet keratitis", or "corneal flash burn". It's analogous to a sunburn on your eyeballs. *Avoid "blind" tack-welding -- closing your eyes, blocking your eyes, or looking away when you tack. *Take steps to ensure that nobody "walks in" on a welding job without eye protection, or they could get arc flash (ie: sign on the door). *Don't weld with a white shirt on -- it's too reflective. *Don't weld with "cool" sunglasses as protection. Being blind isn't cool. ====Symptoms==== *Feels like you have sandpaper rubbing your eyeballs. *Bloodshot eyes. *Light sensitivity. *Excessing tearing. *Moderate to severe pain. *Can't close eyes (can't sleep). ===What about using potatoes, potato juice, or milk?=== Don't put a potato on your eye, or potato juice, or milk. It's likely an urban legend. It's not sterile and could cause an infection. Instead, use eyewash from a first aid kit. See a doctor. ===What about using over-the-counter eyedrops?=== Don't use topical anesthetic drops, because they can slow the healing of the cornea. However (ask your doctor), you can probably use over-the-counter lubricant eyedrops. ===When to see a doctor about arc flash=== If you have pain in your eyes, or your vision blurs or changes, you should see a doctor, preferably an ophthalmologist. Or, just go to an emergency room. The doctor will examine your eye, typically with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slit_lamp slit lamp]. You may receive some eyedrops to numb your eye, dilate, or dye your eye to aid in the examination. Then, you'll probably get some eyedrops to take home, to help alleviate the pain or lubricate your eyes. In most cases, you should be recovered with a few days. ===Related links=== ====Articles and tech info==== *[http://www.eyesafety.4ursafety.com/terms.html Safety glasses terms, types, and lens tint descriptions, from 4UrSafety.com] *[http://www.emedicinehealth.com/corneal_flash_burns/article_em.htm Corneal flash burn, from eMedecineHealth.com] *[http://www.equipdirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=3 Safety glasses glossary] ====OSHA standards==== *[http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9778 OSHA standard for eye and face protection] [http://www.labtrain.noaa.gov/osha600/refer/menu11a.pdf OSHA guide listing proper filter lens shade number for different welding operations] ====Discussions==== *[http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/safety-glasses-slag-135401.html Safety glasses and slag] *[http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/burned-eyes-121146.html Burned eyes] ==Hearing protection== 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. Wear ear plugs when welding overhead, to avoid getting slag in your ears. *[http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735 OSHA standard for occupational noise exposure] ==If you get slag in your eye== Go see a doctor. Your eye can quickly "heal" over the slag, requiring surgery to remove it. Even if you think you got it out, it could still be in there. Don't put a potato on your eye, as the urban legend dictates. It could become infected. == 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, handling 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. Ventilation is often overlooked when taking on the tasks of grinding, welding, spraying. When grinding, it is useful to use at least couple of fans to push and pull the air and debris around you. ''(confirm or expand)'' By creating air movement away from your face the less likely you be able to breath it in. When moving the air in an explosive environment (fine dust and chemical vapors), an explosion-proof motor must be employed. When you are done using your respirator, clean it and return it to a sealed container or sealed, "Ziplock"-type bag. The charcoal type keep working as long as there is air to work with. *[http://ehso.com/RespProtectionTypes.htm Types of Respirators, and How to Select a Respirator] == 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. Combined with a high quality chain with hooks on each end, this 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 the load. 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. When setting jack stands or car lifts, make sure that one person sets the lift points. If two different people set them, it is likely that they will be in different spots, possibly making the object unstable. == Ladders and climbing == == Leave gloves off when working with rotating equipment == [[Image:cutoff_wheel_wound.jpg|thumbnail|right|350px|A stitched-up wound from a cutoff wheel. ''Do you have a photo of a garage/shop injury? Please [[Special:Upload | upload it to the wiki]].'']] 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 it 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. ==Drill press safety== *Always clamp in your work piece. It could easily be ripped from your hand and spin around dangerously. *A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man%27s_switch dead man's switch] can make a drill press (or many other stationary power tools) considerably safer. If the work piece gets loose, all you need to do is lift up your foot, and the power to the tool is cut off. [[Image:drill_press_deadmans_switch.jpg|thumbnail|right|350px|A basic homemade dead man's switch for a drill press.]] == MSDS -- What are they? == Material Safety Data Sheets are summaries of the chemical properties of any material. Employers are generally required to have them available for any material they use, and manufacturers and distributors will often 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, forty hours a week, for decades. Serious hobbyists who use materials regularly should consult the MSDS. *[http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ Where to find MSDS on the Internet] *[http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/demystify.html The MS-Demystifier] -- scans MSDS's and adds links to glossary definitions. == Chemical handling == Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be chosen properly when working with various chemicals. Standard fare when dealing with a majority of chemicals includes safety goggles (often used with a face shield), 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. == Skin Protection == When handling hydrocarbon chemicals (oils, greases, solvents, paints, and thinners) use nitrile or latex gloves and/or skin protective barrier creams. Repeated and/or prolonged exposures can result in sensitization and chronic skin problems.
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