There can be no doubt that home improvement can be a gratifying pastime or even a good and stable career working as an independent contractor. However, it can’t be argued that it is also potentially dangerous work for newcomers and experienced hands alike. 

Whether you’re an experienced contractor or just starting to get into the world of home improvement and DIY work, it always pays to be fully aware of your basic safety precautions and fully make sure that the work you do is not endangering your health and wellbeing. 

No paycheck (and indeed no hobby!) is worth a trip to the ER. Making use of the basic safety tips listed below will go a long way to ensuring that you can improve your living space, get more contracts, and keep on doing good work with your hands with peace of mind.

1. Keep Your Workspace Clean

Before anything else, there are a few simple tips that every worker should adhere to when doing any kind of manual construction work to avoid running into unfortunate or dangerous accidents. Why invite trouble unnecessarily? 

You should always work in a clean open workspace – it’s easy for projects like this to quickly build up clutter, especially when you’re mainly focused on completing the job at hand. Leaving tripping hazards, loose nails, or sharp debris around at the end of the day can easily lead to avoidable injuries. 

2. Wear Appropriate Safety Gear

You should always wear essential PPE (personal protective equipment), especially when working with any kind of power tool. You should always have basic protective gear when working with power tools – goggles, gloves, earplugs, or head protection, depending on the specific tools or conditions you’re working with. Even a simple piece of cheap and disposable gear can go a long way towards keeping you safe!

3. Set Yourself Up For Success!

No matter what kind of project you may be starting up, you should always consider these basic factors to ensure that you stay sharp and avoid injury.

• Take your time! – Getting the job done one time and within budget is clearly an important goal, but rushing a job is a sure way to either hurt someone or make avoidable mistakes in your work.
• Work in Good Lighting – Actually being able to see what you’re doing is always necessary for good, safe work. 
• Don’t Work Stressed or Tired – It’s a known fact that humans will make more mistakes and poor decisions when our minds and bodies aren’t rested. Come to each job fresh and bright-eyed to avoid unnecessary mistakes. 

4. Be Careful Around Ladders

Each year in the United States, around 160,000 people go to the emergency room for injuries sustained on a ladder. Don’t become another statistic – exercise smart ladder usage and remember that any ladder increases your chance of a severe fall or death! Always choose the right ladder for the job and position it on a flat, firm surface 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of height on your ladder.

5. Maintain Your Equipment

Power tools and sharp landscaping equipment should always be appropriately stored out of the reach of children and should be checked to make sure that they are sharp and ready before use. Poorly maintained equipment can easily lead to injury! 

6. Work in Well Ventilated Areas

Whether you are painting or working with materials that generate dust (sometimes toxic dust!), always be sure to keep windows open and use fans. If proper ventilation isn’t really possible with a job, consider wearing a face respirator and working in shorter shifts.  

7. Read All Relevant Instructions

It’s often tempting to skip the instructions when you feel confident about doing a specific job for the first time or working with a new piece of equipment, but even experienced workers should never do so! Always read official guidelines, find walkthroughs on the internet, or ask someone with experience before trying something new.

8. Take Extra Precautions When Doing Electrical Work

When doing any kind of electrical work, always make sure that currents are turned off and that the fuse is removed from the circuit breaker. Always triple-check your work for errors, keep a fire extinguisher on hand, and never attempt electrical work if you aren’t fully trained for it. 

9. Dress for the Job at Hand

Wearing the right clothing is a simple and easy way to avoid many common accidents. Avoid loose or baggy clothes that can catch on surfaces or sharp objects, remove any kind of dangling jewelry, and always wear closed-toe, reinforced shoes with good soles. 

10. Always Put Safety First!

No matter what, always keep your own safety and that of your co-workers first and foremost! You should never feel ashamed to hire outside help on a job that you aren’t prepared to do yourself safely, and remember that no project or paycheck is worth seriously injuring or even killing yourself or someone else! 

Rent Safe, Quality Tools and and Equipment at Elephant Construction Solutions

At Elephant Construction Solutions, our quality equipment serves professionals and hobbyists alike with high-quality tools and accessories that you’ll need to get the job done right. Located in the Rio Grande Valley, we offer many different options for rent, such as: saws, drills, and many other power tools, professional construction equipment, as well as other machinery, including air compressors, power generators, and even scaffolding. 

Reach out to us at Elephant Construction Solutions to get a free quote for any power tools or machinery you may need for your next job or project. Whether it’s as simple as a lawnmower, as important as scaffolding, or as small as a circular saw, we have the best in high quality products you are looking for.