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DIY Dilemmas: This Week :
Think Safety First?

Property Prices

The prices of property may have risen by close to 10pc in 2005. Our long love affair with the property market seems set to continue way into 2006 and beyond. The Celtic Tiger is still roaring with the construction of almost 80,000 new homes last year.

Reality Check

With property prices forecasted to continue on the upward spiral homeowners are now either choosing to extend or renovate. Many more homeowners today find they require more living space at a reasonable cost. Significant numbers of people are exploring ways to increase space in their existing home. This fact is bore out as the local planning authorities are now receiving lot's more applications for planning permission.

Growing Trend

DIY is now more popular than ever and is a trend set to continue and grow. As you pass through most streets in Dublin or the surrounding suburbs the number of rubbish skips is very evident. All year round now people are busy with DIY home improvements projects. So in this issue let's take a look at how we can carry out all our DIY projects safely.

Accidents can be avoided

On the flip side of this coin the news is not so good. Every year there are more and more people being serious injuries from DIY accidents. This is a cause for concern as most of these accidents are avoidable. The main cause are due to either peoples carelessness or lack of common sense when carrying out basic DIY.

Common Sense

First of all, common sense is the order of the day but you all know what they say about common sense it's not very common. Before you tackle any DIY maintenance or repair job, your primary concern should be safety. Remember that, if in doubt, always consult a professional. This advice will help to make your home improvements go smoothly and safely. Take the time to plan what is to be done could mean the difference between tackling a job safely and successfully or courting disaster.

Plan Ahead

Do not rush as you're more likely to end up have an accident. Plan ahead, and co-ordinate your tools and safety equipment with the DIY project that you are about to carry out. It's always wise to know your limitations and consult a professional if you are unsure. Don't forget to take regular breaks, too. Tiredness can be a major contributing factor in any DIY accident.

Safety tips let's take a look at the ladder:

Ladders are one of the main causes of DIY accidents. Always erect your ladder in accordance with the manufacturer's written instructions. This advice on how to position ladders safely may make the difference in helping to save you from a nasty ladder accident

Ladder Types

There are many different types now available from small 'step stools' to larger stepladders and combination designs that can be converted into extending ladders.

A common type being bought is often is the 4 to 7 step folding version. These are ever versatile and most suited to many jobs around the house, but it's very important never to use any stepladder that's the wrong height for the particular job you're doing. Some are too short for high work can be just as dangerous - are too high for lower type jobs. You must be able to do your work comfortably without over reaching up, down or sideways on any type of ladder big or small. Never ever try to lean to one side as you could lose balance and be seriously injured.

Protective Work wear

Wear protective clothing including safety goggles, gloves and dust mask when working with potentially hazardous materials such as glass or spray paint. It is also advisable to wear a mask when working in a dusty environment e.g. sawing wood or MDF.

Do you think as many do an accident will never happen to me. Eventually it may and only when it does happen that you'll be glad you were wearing the gloves, or the goggles, or the dust mask.

Power Tools

When using any type of power tool, choose a model that has a plastic non-conducting body. Unplug the all tools before fitting parts and remove the chuck key from a drill before switching it on. Avoid wearing loose clothing as they could get caught in the power tools while switched on.

If you're fixing an electrical appliance, switch off the appliance at the socket and pull out the plug. It's a good idea to wear rubber-soled shoes while working on electrics.

Always use the correct power tools for the job in question. It is well worth investing in high quality equipment as this will be safer and will probably do the job quicker and safer.

Learn to look after all your tools - and they will look after you. If it's broken, throw it out straight away. Do not wait until the head of your hammer comes flying off mid swing before you decide it's time to replace it.