Health and safety in the shop or garage
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*Also known as "arc eyes", "flash burn", "snow blindness", "ultraviolet keratitis", or "corneal flash burn". It's analogous to a sunburn on your eyeballs. | *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. | *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 ( | + | *Take steps to ensure that nobody "walks in" on a welding job without eye protection, or they could get arc flash (i.e.: sign on the door). |
*Don't weld with a white shirt on -- it's too reflective. | *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. | *Don't weld with "cool" sunglasses as protection. Being blind isn't cool. | ||
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*Bloodshot eyes. | *Bloodshot eyes. | ||
*Light sensitivity. | *Light sensitivity. | ||
| − | * | + | *Excessive tearing. |
*Moderate to severe pain. | *Moderate to severe pain. | ||
*Can't close eyes (can't sleep). | *Can't close eyes (can't sleep). | ||
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==Hearing protection== | ==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. | + | 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. Generally speaking, if you have to yell to be heard at arm's length distance, the noise is loud enough to cause hearing damage. If noise exposure causes ringing in the ears (tinnitus), some amount of damage has occurred. 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. | Wear ear plugs when welding overhead, to avoid getting slag in your ears. | ||
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===Ingestion, inhalation, and skin or eye contamination=== | ===Ingestion, inhalation, and skin or eye contamination=== | ||
| − | If you ingest or inhale battery acid, or if you get battery acid on your skin or in your eyes | + | If you ingest or inhale battery acid, or if you get battery acid on your skin or in your eyes, immediately flush the area with water then get medical attention immediately. Speed is critical. |
"Get medical attention immediately" doesn't always mean "run to the emergency room", although sometimes it might. Stop what you're doing, and act within your knowledge and means to attend to the medical priority of the situation. | "Get medical attention immediately" doesn't always mean "run to the emergency room", although sometimes it might. Stop what you're doing, and act within your knowledge and means to attend to the medical priority of the situation. | ||
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If you get battery acid on your skin, remove contaminated clothes and shoes, and flush your skin with soap and water for 15 minutes. | If you get battery acid on your skin, remove contaminated clothes and shoes, and flush your skin with soap and water for 15 minutes. | ||
| − | If you ingest ( | + | If you ingest (i.e.: "swallow") battery acid, don't induce vomiting. If the victim is conscious, give 3 cups of milk or water. Don't ever give anything to an unconscious person. |
If you inhale battery acid, get fresh air immediately. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. | If you inhale battery acid, get fresh air immediately. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. | ||
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Using battery acid to clean concrete can crumble and flake your concrete surface. Battery acid doesn't actually "clean" concrete -- it '''dissolves''' it. The acid soaks into the concrete, and will continue to damage it until it is neutralized. | Using battery acid to clean concrete can crumble and flake your concrete surface. Battery acid doesn't actually "clean" concrete -- it '''dissolves''' it. The acid soaks into the concrete, and will continue to damage it until it is neutralized. | ||
| − | + | Water will dilute battery acid to the point of the acid being neutralized if enough water is used. Never add water to acid (remember the old chemistry class saying "do like you oughta, add acid to the water"). Always add acid '''slowly''' to water. In fact, sulfuric acid (and other strong acids) produces heat when it is introduced to water. The resulting exothermic reaction can almost instantly boil the water, blowing acid all over your body, leading to acid burns. | |
Instead of sulfuric acid, use a commercial product specifically designed for cleaning concrete. | Instead of sulfuric acid, use a commercial product specifically designed for cleaning concrete. | ||
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When moving the air in an explosive environment (fine dust and chemical vapors), an explosion-proof motor must be employed. | 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, " | + | When you are done using your respirator, clean it and return it to a sealed container or sealed, "Ziploc"-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] | *[http://ehso.com/RespProtectionTypes.htm Types of Respirators, and How to Select a Respirator] | ||
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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. | 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 | + | 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! Instead, use some sort of lifting fixture to lift the engine. Using lifting eyes or fixtures 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. | 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. Make sure the | + | 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. Make sure the jack/jack stands are designed to support the weight you will be raising. Unless on the road side, refrain from using a bumper jack as they are unstable and can push a car forward while jacking. |
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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 | + | MSDS supply important info to people working with various materials 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/ Where to find MSDS on the Internet] | ||
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