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Safety 101- Anybody wanting to share their safety tips when using their tools??

Roddyo

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Don't put your finger anywhere you wouldn't put your Pecker��
 
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kblee27

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I use a cordless impact driver everyday.
I'm just thinking if something breaks during the impacting, like the extension or the socket breaks and splinters fly; I might get hurt.
The only protection I have is a pair of gloves.

Does anyone have a bad experience with impact driving ?
 
Joined
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I use a cordless impact driver everyday.
I'm just thinking if something breaks during the impacting, like the extension or the socket breaks and splinters fly; I might get hurt.
The only protection I have is a pair of gloves.

Does anyone have a bad experience with impact driving ?
Wear safety glasses
 

MushCreek

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Don't wear gloves when working with things that rotate ... you will never get the glove off fast enough, never.

I worked in a shop with a number of different grinders. Every one had a little sign that said, "Don't stop the grinding wheel with your hands, even if you are wearing gloves." Really? They had to put a sign for that?

Not many of you work with heavy stuff, but if you are, and it can fall over, DON'T try to catch it! I work on plastic injection molds, and the individual mold plates can weigh hundreds of pounds. First, we try to secure them so that they can't topple over, but if one does, you train yourself to get out of the way, NOT try to catch it. Steel safety toes get flattened by a 300 lb. plate falling off of a table.
 
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drivesitfar

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ALL: great tips. also the THINKING PART is very essential and the more tips and things we put out on threads like this gives those of us that didn't know what to THINK about a better chance.

speaking of gloves i needed to trim an aluminum track for a stair lift two weeks ago and as i pulled the rack out of the back of my Honda Pilot i sliced my left index finger on the end and blood was going everywhere. good thing i had a few bandages in my car to stop the bleeding. the cut is still healing and i had a nice pair of leather gloves maybe a foot from where i had the aluminum track laying in my Honda. put them on when moving stuff and like has been mentioned probably not a good idea to use them around spinning wheels. use your good judgement and maybe have a mental checklist before doing anything around the shop or garage.

also a thing to know is let the cut bleed out a little and maybe have some neosporin (sp?) with your bandages like I do just in case an accident does happen or maybe a good glove still didn't prevent a cut.

HORNETS: not that this happens to many of you, but if you have areas that don't get a lot of activity have stuff the hornets can tend to make nests in them they will (also finding more and more making nests in the ground) so have a can of wasp spray handy and try to keep ahead of those. i was cutting some blackberries out of a corner that seem to grow in day and as i was cutting it seemed like a lot of flies were around until i noticed they were hornets and moved quickly out of the area which is now their area and luckily didn't get stung. they weren't happy and good thing i had easy access out of there. i'll keep you posted on the removal or i might just wait until winter to clean up that area when they are dead and gone.

i used to be able to call a BEE GUY, but he died of a heart attack while out fishing about 10 years ago. he removed football size type hornets nests in trees and barns and garages and under decks for $50 in about 5 to 10 minutes if easy access and $100 for those that were a little harder to get to, but he put on full BEE KEEPER'S suit to do so before he bagged up the nests. he also moved the honey bee's nests for FREE because he'd take them home and keep them. i'm sure Hornets have a use in nature, but i'm not sure exactly what and i swell up pretty good when i get stung by one.
 

larry_g

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In addition to running when things go bad, have an escape route planned when doing things that are even the least bit sketchy. Like if you have an engine on a cherry picker, plan for failure and have a route planned away from the equipment. Don't have your back to a wall or a floor littered with tripping hazards. Same as felling a tree, clear a path to run if things go bad.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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drivesitfar

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ALL: speaking of THINKING and running or getting your hands out of the way guess who almost sliced off the end of his thumb today? yes i should have had had gloves on and i really should have not tried to save a metal cabinet from dropping a foot because my thumb got the worst of it. i was hoping i just smashed it until i saw the slice and then like in slow motion the blood starts gushing out.

ok here's SAFETY 101 tip #1: have a first aid kit packed and ready to grab at the ready so you don't have to go to three places and then find scissors to cut open a small neosporin. put some of the essentials in there and also a few things that just might help you from making a ****** mess through your house or garage.

i think i avoided another emergency room visit and hopefully this cut will mend itself with a few weeks of just changing the bandages. it's throbbing pretty good still 12 hours later, but might be because i have the bandaid on pretty tight.

one thing i did that i think is a must is to let it bleed for a while to get all or a good percentage of any dirt or bacteria out of the open cut which i did. i also haven't had a tetnus shot in about 45 years so hopefully that won't be needed either.

instead of hoping to be lucky and not have an accident just THINK and use proper safety gear and in this case a fairly thick PAIR OF GLOVES would have been all that was needed
 

lazer50

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Im 50 and have worked in many environments to learn safety tips .but need reminded all the time lol ive welded 35 years and know to never touch hot metal everyone knows that but especially never with wet gloves woo wee !
 

bmxdad

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I worked in a shop with a number of different grinders. Every one had a little sign that said, "Don't stop the grinding wheel with your hands, even if you are wearing gloves." Really? They had to put a sign for that?

Not many of you work with heavy stuff, but if you are, and it can fall over, DON'T try to catch it! I work on plastic injection molds, and the individual mold plates can weigh hundreds of pounds. First, we try to secure them so that they can't topple over, but if one does, you train yourself to get out of the way, NOT try to catch it. Steel safety toes get flattened by a 300 lb. plate falling off of a table.


Saw it all the time when I was a mold grinder ... gloves were 1/4" thick. Problem was they would go to stop the wheel when changing it out and it would **** it down between the wheel and post. Usually breaking the fingers or almost. Ask me how I know :eyecrazy: ... I was grinding flash off of castings, and the grinder motors where the size of a 5 gal buckets ... or bigger. You could lean on them with your full weight and not even slow them down.
 

Gautama

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Wear the proper gloves for what you're doing. If you don't have the right kind, you won't wear them because they'll get in the way.

I really like Superior Glove out of Canada. They offer tons of different types of gloves, they're well made, and they're inexpensive. I mention them every chance I get because I like their products and want to share. :)

Here's what they offer in work gloves: http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves#

This is what I use for doing work that would normally beat up my hands or has a risk of cutting: http://www.superiorglove.com/tenact...l-4-cut-resistant-kni-with-foam-nitrile-palms

These are my heavy duty gloves that are impact, cut, and puncture resistant: http://www.superiorglove.com/endura-oilbloc-goatskin-kevlar-lined-anti-impact-driver-gloves

They offer these for dealing with high temperatures: http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves/heat-resistant-gloves

They also offer quite a variety of gloves for mechanics: http://www.superiorglove.com/work-gloves/mechanics-gloves

I've found them to be much more durable than Mechanix gloves. OK, enough shilling. :p
 
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drivesitfar

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Guatama: unless you own a company how can you buy these superior gloves? the video where a guy makes a finger painting using them looks like the ones i would use daily and these cut fingers might not happen again. thanks for posting and feel free to post more safety information as you think of them.

ALL: my original bandages are still on my thumb and getting ready to pull them off and put on a new batch and hopefully the cut is already healing.

cheers and wish me luck because even thought the cut was only about 3/4 of an inch long it was about 1/4 of an inch deep and the cabinet that cut it was over 100 years old so no telling what was my thumb that hopefully bled out.
 

2oolhound

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I didn't want to go back and check but I don't think this has been mentioned before. I just installed a foot switch on my drill press last night. You have to have your foot on it to use the drill, Take your foot off and it stops. No looking to see where you need to reach and poke the stop button in emergencies. I wish the motor had a brake in it for instant stop now, then i'd feel real secure.

I may put one on my lathe next but need to think that one through 1st.
 

slimpickins

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I've got a scar on my left forearm from doing this when I was a kid:lol_hitti

Was tearing apart wooden pallets in the basement using the claw of a hammer wedged in the stringers, hitting the head with the head of another hammer. A flaming chip off the corner of the head flew off directly into my arm and proceeded to bore a hole in it about 1/4" deep. Bled like a stuck pig, and you can still see where it was to this day.

:+1: to this. I also have a scar on my left forearm from when I worked in construction. A tiny crescent moon shaped piece of steel about 1/8th of an inch long came off the head of one of the hammers and embedded in my forearm halfway between my wrist and elbow. Blood was pouring off my fingertips within 2 seconds. Took a trip to the hospital to get it out. Could have easily hit my eye!

Cheers!
 

slimpickins

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No loose clothing in a shop! Ever!!!!
I remember this went viral a few years ago about a guy killed when his clothing got wrapped up and sucked him into a metal lathe. It's VERY sobering to see this stuff, but if it saves a life ...

THIS IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC!!!! DO NOT CLICK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE!
http://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/showthread.php?3124-Machinist-gets-Sucked-through-lathe-Don-t-click-if-you-don-t-want-to-see

People always think it'll never happen to them (young people seem to think this way more so) but it can and it will if you don't pay attention and think!!!

A drill press can rip your arm off if your sleeve gets wrapped around the chuck or bit.

Handheld drills can break your hand or wrist when drilling bigger holes - use the screw-in second handle and use two hands.

Keep fingers out of reach of nail guns - your fingers should be 2 nail lengths away from the business end of the gun.

Air compressors can blow metal bits into your skin or eyes as fast as a grinder - wear eye protection.

Keep LOTS of safety glasses around and keep them close to every workstation. I have about 20 pair of safety glasses around my shop.

Great thread Drives!

Stay safe Everyone!!!
 

Gautama

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Guatama: unless you own a company how can you buy these superior gloves? the video where a guy makes a finger painting using them looks like the ones i would use daily and these cut fingers might not happen again. thanks for posting and feel free to post more safety information as you think of them.

ALL: my original bandages are still on my thumb and getting ready to pull them off and put on a new batch and hopefully the cut is already healing.

cheers and wish me luck because even thought the cut was only about 3/4 of an inch long it was about 1/4 of an inch deep and the cabinet that cut it was over 100 years old so no telling what was my thumb that hopefully bled out.

I ordered my gloves from Amazon. Search for the model number.
 

Lee Celtic

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Llanberis, North Wales UK
Ok so heres my list of things I do or have done..

I always wear steel toe cap footwear in the garage,
41QODNIq3gL._SX395_.jpg

they also have a steel plate in the sole incase I stand on a nail.

As said never wear gloves when using anything that spins, but always wear them when handling sharp stuff.

Roll up your sleeves when using something that spins, Also I used to have really long hair (yeh a rock fan)and would tie it back and tuck it down into my collar.

I keep a set of ear defenders (cans) clamped over the top of my drillstand one side covering the on button.. it means I have to move them to press the on button so Might as well put them on.

Good lighting and a clear path to the door.

If your going to be doing anything under a car or with electricity get someone (the wife or kids) to bring you a coffee now and again.. really they are checking if you are ok.

Yes put fire extinguishers by the door.. but also have one near where your welding.

Leather or Kevlar sleeves save the crux of your elbow from hotrocks when welding.

sharp tools leave clean cuts.. blunt ones leave ragged edges that don't heal well

first aid kit but also have a few eye wash bottles dotted around the workshop (I have them by the machines)

I one from a friend... leave your phone out on the worktop ... you can dial with your nose if you have to..
 
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mopar_johnny

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Great thread! I'd say always use ear pro when dealing with loud things. I've got horrible hearing now from too many loud concerts, shooting guns and using loud tools with no ear protection (all my own fault). Now that's the first thing I grab if I'm going to be working with loud things, even if its for a short time.

Also if you're burning trash make sure you check what is all in there first don't assume! When I was a younger I was burning a bunch of paper garbage from cleaning out the basement and there was battery pack in there I had forgotten about. It exploded and a piece of shrapnel hit the side of my leg leaving about an inch by inch flap. That was a lovely trip to the ER, still have a wicked scar. A smaller piece hit my sister in the chin but thankfully it was a small piece and it only left a small cut.
 

Schurkey

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I started-out with a bunch of junk tools, my "good" stuff was government-surplus and a bunch of Craftsman.

When stuff broke, if there was a warranty on the tool, I got it replaced under warranty.

Eventually I decided that if a tool broke, and caused me to see my own blood, I bought a higher-quality replacement, warrantied the tool (if possible) and then sold or gave away the warranty replacement.

I saw less of my own blood once the worst offenders were gone. Anyone who buys bottom-feeder universal joints/universal sockets is insane.
 

krcoomer

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Bluegrass region
Great thread and many great suggestions.

I am at the age where I need the readers more often than not but not always. Frustrating playing the glasses change game with the safties. Need to find some good bifocal safety lenses.

Only one I have to add is one taught by my cousin many years ago when he told me to never turn a tank open more than a quarter turn so it can be shut off with one hand. Have never had to use this, but think about it every time I use a bottle.
 

rockinacummins

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Wapanucka, OK
I believe in using the right tool for the job.

Slow down and avoid being in a hurry to finish a job.

Always de-energize all related power sources when working on equipment, and

then check with voltage tester to make certain that power is off. No matter what!!

If you know you are taking a chance, STOP!!!!! Find a another way.

:thumbup:

Bingo.

Stop and think before you act, don't take shortcuts.
 

Hiball

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Missery
Just Say No to Wedding rings.... When climbing on or around equipment, I seen a neighbor climb off a combine when I was younger, he missed a step and fell about 6' leaving his glove/skin/ring up on a pinch point.


:eyecrazy:
 
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drivesitfar

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ALL: thanks for all the KUDOS to me for starting a thread. it's really OUR THREAD and i'll just host it or post often like i would if it was someone elses where i thought i could help or learn. we can all participate in and learn and teach on this one that is for certain. keep all those tips and thoughts coming and i think there could and should be posts on here daily with some sort of safety tip. or maybe a post showing a little lack of proper safety or thinking which i will now post the first ****** picture. it's hard to see, but the gash in the top of my thumb is about an inch across just above my left thumbnail and it looked like about 1/4 inch deep. it seems to be healing ok and i'll keep you posted, but i really wish i would have spent a few minutes getting my gloves on or just letting the cabinet drop.

i still need to get a first aid kit in my garage, shop and storage areas just because at any time something could cut me even if i'm taking proper precautions because accidents happen.

here's a tip to tell your kids if they are going to work around heavy stuff because my Uhaul guy today told me he just came from a safety class and it showed a young employee running to stop a pod from falling off a semi and it fell on him and KILLED HIM. i'm sure he thought he could tip it back, but even if he could have is it worth risking your life.

hope you all have a safe and productive weekend and in case you do have an accident make sure your first aid kit is close by even if you are planning on going to the emergency room. my mom had to go to emergency room a couple months ago because she was throwing up without any notice and often and it took her 7 hours of sitting in the waiting room before she got to see a Doctor and then was admitted into surgery and stayed a week. emergency rooms are too crowded to come in bleeding so BEE CAREFUL
 

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Codenforcer

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Dec 6, 2014
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Most common I've seen recently either driving around the neighborhood or by a neighbor down the street is weed eating NOT wearing safety glasses. That's just asking to loose an eye
 

Codenforcer

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Don't wear gloves when working with things that rotate ... you will never get the glove off fast enough, never.



X2 on this, especially on a bench grinder, many think they are being safe putting on gloves. Used to work with a guy who lost his pinky and ring finger in the bench grinder. When he returned back to work, we nicknamed him gun slinger.
 

pi_guy

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Several good points.
A line from a popular movie tells it better.
A man got to know his limitations.

In racing most of the rules or safety suggestion I have seen broken. But you do not last if you do not get it together, things get proven pretty quickly out here.
Most of it is common sense and a little chemistry and physics which most people avoided. Leaving a over filled bottle of gasoline in the sun and wondering why when you opened the bottle fuel came rushing out. One of the best I saw was a fire started in the top of the fuel cell when the pump and filler pipe taken out. I watched a crew member pour water into the fuel cell from a drinking bottle.

Safety in transporting and storage of pressurized gas cylinders and bottles.

& pay attention to what you are doing.
in 1978 at my first race I was in pit lane with back to exiting cars a driver by the name of Keke Rosberg was exiting rapidly. My friend pulled me out of the way just as he nipped my heels with front wheels. From that point on became very aware of the fact that other people do give a **** about you and you had better watch your tail.
 

PJNJ

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A lot of good safety tips in this thread. Over the last couple of decades, I have become fond of staying alive as long as I can and have tried to be better about tool and work safety. I am a heavy DIY'er and for a few years had a pretty busy handyman side business. There are some really good recommendations but the posts about taking the proper amount of time and not rushing are right on the money. It seems whenever I rushed, something went wrong or I hurt myself.

One thing I don't think I've seen in the thread yet is using jack stands safely on asphalt. About fifteen years ago, I saw that the jack stands I was using in the driveway were digging into the asphalt. I worried that if they might dig in unevenly, tilt and fall over causing the car to crash down (maybe on poor old me). So I took some 3/4 plywood and cut it into square sections a few inches larger than the footprint of the jack stands and place them under the jack stands whenever I use them. I suppose that you could also possibly use them on dirt and gravel - though I have not jacked anything up on those surfaces.

I also double up on jack stands now when jacking up my vehicles and also use a pair as backup safety when I put a vehicle on my Rhino ramps.

:beer:
 
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Codenforcer

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Witnessed another, tile saw and no glasses. Yikes. Anyone with an eye injury would probably cringe witnessing that.
 

pinkerton

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A lot of good safety tips in this thread. Over the last couple of decades, I have become fond of staying alive as long as I can and have tried to be better about tool and work safety. I am a heavy DIY'er and for a few years had a pretty busy handyman side business. There are some really good recommendations but the posts about taking the proper amount of time and not rushing are right on the money. It seems whenever I rushed, something went wrong or I hurt myself.

One thing I don't think I've seen in the thread yet is using jack stands safely on asphalt. About fifteen years ago, I saw that the jack stands I was using in the driveway were digging into the asphalt. I worried that if they might dig in unevenly, tilt and fall over causing the car to crash down (maybe on poor old me). So I took some 3/4 plywood and cut it into square sections a few inches larger than the footprint of the jack stands and place them under the jack stands whenever I use them. I suppose that you could also possibly use them on dirt and gravel - though I have not jacked anything up on those surfaces.

I also double up on jack stands now when jacking up my vehicles and also use a pair as backup safety when I put a vehicle on my Rhino ramps.

:beer:
I plan on doing this - but want to figure out a way to mount the jack stand on the plywood.
 

PJNJ

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I plan on doing this - but want to figure out a way to mount the jack stand on the plywood.

I guess you could take some flat stock from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and bend it to fit against one side of the stand legs and the other against the board. Drill a small hole in the leg and the board and bolt them together. But make it a small hole so you don't affect the jack stand strength.

Though the stands and boards haven't moved at all when I lower the car or truck onto them.

:beer:
 

over40pirate

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Aug 31, 2012
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Never use a non impact flex socket, especially a deep one. That might save you from having to have 4 stitches in your eyeball. While you watch!
Oh yeah. wear safety glasses
 

Citation

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For a lot of hand tool work, think where the tool will go when it slips. Make sure your other hand isn't in front of it. This is especially true with prying/scraping etc tools. Also, don't push on that wrench/tight nut with a bent elbow. That just gives your hand lot's of wind up to punch something sharp when the bolt breaks free. Instead push with a straight arm using your shoulder. You have plenty of strength and only about an inch or two of travel. Also make sure your own weight won't carry you forward when the bolt breaks free. I can't believe I was well into my 30s before someone mentioned the straight arm thing to me!
 
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