Do-It-Yourself Safety Tips

Whether you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer or a novice learning to operate basic power tools, home improvement projects require special care and attention to safety.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) estimates that more than four million injuries involving typical do-it-yourself projects are reported to hospital emergency rooms each year.

Taking the time to practice the following common sense and inexpensive safety precautions will help ensure that your home improvement projects are successful and safe.

Power Tools

Fact: Each year, power home tools are involved in as many as 110,000 emergency room visits. Over 65% of these injuries involved power home workshop saws.

Large or Small--D-I-Y Projects Should Begin with Safety

  • Read the instruction manual before using a power tool or machine.
  • Plug power tools into outlets protected with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
  • Wear proper eye protection when using any power tool.
  • Do not wear any loose or dangling clothing that could become caught in moving parts.
  • When using power circular saws, set the blade depth only a quarter inch or so more than the thickness of the material being cut.
  • Keep the base of the saw clean and occasionally apply a thin coat of paste or wax to ensure the saw glides smoothly.
  • Support the material being cut properly so it will not pinch the blade causing it to kick back toward you.

Lawn and Garden

Fact: More than 200,000 visits to emergency rooms each year are related to yard and garden equipment, including chain saws, lawn mowers and hand garden tools.

D-I-Y Safety Tips

  • Keep children inside the house or well away from the area you are mowing.
  • Prepare your lawn by walking over it, checking for broken sticks, stones, toys and anything else that could shoot out from under the mower or damage the blade.
  • Before you start your lawn mower for the first time, check to make sure that all guards are in place.
  • Store pesticides and herbicides on high shelves or inside locked cabinets, out of the reach of children.
  • When using a chain saw, make certain it is equipped with an anti-kickback chain that is well sharpened.

Ladders

Fact: Each year, ladders and step stools are associated with more than 150,000 injuries.

D-I-Y Safety Tips

  • Choose the correct ladder for the job.
  • Lean the top of the ladder against something solid and place the base on firm, level ground.
  • Place the ladder at the proper angle (not too steep or too flat).
  • Keep both hands on the rungs when climbing.
  • Do not overreach while on the ladder, causing the ladder to tip and fall sideways.
  • Do not step on the top two rungs of the ladder.

For more information on do-it-yourself safety and a variety of other home safety topics, call Lowe's Home Safety Council's toll-free, 24-hour information line: 1-800 SAFE HOME. A free home safety packet can also be obtained by calling this number.

The National Safety Council is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. The Home Safety Council is a nonprofit organization founded to enhance the quality of American home life by helping families improve the comfort of their homes through better knowledge and practice of home safety.