How safe is your garage?

[Blacknwhitepit]

I notice a lot of people spend time and money on shiny floors and cabinets, but how much do we spend on safety?

I think we all agree that a fire extinguisher is absolutely necessary. And most of us already have some sort of first aid kit handy.

A couple of other things I am going to add to my garage for additional safety:

Eyewash station. Fairly inexpensive:

Fire Blanket:

Flammable storage locker:

Oil Rag waste can:

This is interesting but a little expensive:

Not that you need to be OSHA compliant, but safety never hurts!

-BWP

 

[Ripp]

I have a couple 10BC extinquishers.

I try to do anything dealing with combustable liquids outside.

Common sense goes along way's too..Found out the hard way to really clear a work area when using the grinder.Started a roll of paper towels on fire once not paying attention.
Didn't hurt anything,but I sure felt like a weenie.

 

[Stuart in MN]

All good ideas. One word of caution, regarding the eyewash/shower in the last picture (as long as we're talking OSHA compliance): They require tempered water, as it would be pretty hard to stand under a cold shower for very long. Those shower put out a lot of water (something like 15gpm if I remember correctly) so it takes a good sized water heater to have enough capacity. An alternate is to have a holding tank for the water so it will be at room temperature, but the problem with those is the water can get pretty green and funky if it's not changed out regularly.

 

[Jononon]

Regardless of legal compliance, reservoir eyewash stations are only a secondary system to a plumbed eyewash. Penetrating corrosives (lye being the one you'd be most likely to encounter) need a 60 minute flush with fresh water, 20 minutes minimum being recommended for non-penetrating corrosives (acids) and other irritants, few reservoir systems can sustain that.

 

[Tizzel]

I'm not exactly sure what you guys are doing in your garages that would warrant a shower??

 

[Ripp]

I'm not exactly sure what you guys are doing in your garages that would warrant a shower??

Every once in awhile when the moon is just right and the wife is feeling a bit frisky after consuming some of her favorite wine....Well...Things just sorta happen!!!!

 

[rickairmedic]

I believe Brain said it best " Today Pinky we are doing the same thing we do every day Trying to take over the world ".

Rick

 

[Ign]

Flammable storage locker:

I've definitely been keeping my eye out for these, but these are definitely a Craigslist item as they are anything but inexpensive!

 

[nissan_crawler]

While it's not a true flammable cabinet, all my flammable's are locked up in a steel cabinet that's sealed. If the whole place went up, it would probably go to, but it will stop all welding/grinding/torching/etc. sparks from getting to anything, which is my main concern. If a real fire gets bad enough to get to that cabinet and get the things inside to blow up, my garage is pretty much done, anyway.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Fire safety is onE of the most inportant things to consider. I store all of my flamables and paint in a steel cabinet and have a few no smoking signs for guest to see and also make a habit of never storing gasoline inside. At night before I lock up I throw the main breakers except for the one for my night light. I have an all metal table with metal back board for welding and grinding small stuff and also check the area well after I finish for anything smoltering. Also have a smoke alarm loud enough to hear from inside my house .

 

[russlaferrera]

I have a couple 10BC extinquishers.

I try to do anything dealing with combustable liquids outside.

Common sense goes along way's too..Found out the hard way to really clear a work area when using the grinder.Started a roll of paper towels on fire once not paying attention.
Didn't hurt anything,but I sure felt like a weenie.

I am left handed. What that means is most power tools are made for right handed people and we lefties adapt.

I was using a 9" grinder wearing a flannel shirt. Sparks bouncing off my chest. I started to smell something burning..... me is on fire. I am a weenie. After 2 shirts (I am a slow learner) I now wear a leather apron.

 

[banzaitoyota]

My Flams are stored in a vented disconnected refridgerator. A Few fireextinguishers thru-out. And a couple qt bottles of eyewash.

 

[toxicz28]

My garage is as safe as smoking in bed!

 

[SteveU]

I have the grinder on the other side of the shop, away from the gunpowder & primers, gasoline & other flamables.

 

[Vicegrip]

I am left handed. What that means is most power tools are made for right handed people and we lefties adapt.

I was using a 9" grinder wearing a flannel shirt. Sparks bouncing off my chest. I started to smell something burning..... me is on fire. I am a weenie. After 2 shirts (I am a slow learner) I now wear a leather apron.

I too am left handed and it seems that all power tools are made for righties.

I have a large ABC powder and a mid sized CO2 extinguisher, the latter in on the welder cart for the small nuisance fires like my pants. With the CO2 you can put a little fire out and keep going without a big mess. It is also still good to use even after you fire off a blast while powder types will leak down after any use. I also have a 2 bottle eye wash station and a full first aid kit. Large quantity flammables are stored in an out building. Went to a water based parts washer.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Next question, how many of your shop extinguishers were store bought, and how many were roadside finds or dumpster dives? I must have 5-6 of vaying sizes from small to very large and every one was found as described above! Yes most ended up getting serviced.

 

[powellscooter]

Common sense.

 

[Ripp]

Next question, how many of your shop extinguishers were store bought, and how many were roadside finds or dumpster dives? I must have 5-6 of vaying sizes from small to very large and every one was found as described above! Yes most ended up getting serviced.

I buy a new extinquisher for the boat every year.The old one ends up either in the garage or one of my fishing buds talks me out of it.