Spring cleanup and home repair

1
Spring clean-up and home repair
2

• Spring has finally arrived and if youre like
  me, you cant wait to get outdoors to spruce up
  your yard and home. But, before you grab that
  rake, think back to last year and how you felt
  after that long days work in your yard

3

• aching back, blisters, sunburn, cuts and
  bruises, and who could forget that painful bee
  sting!

4

• Even the simplest home and yard tasks can be
  extremely dangerous. So this year, I am going to
  use the following safety tips to to make my
  spring cleaning activities safer and easier.
• I hope you will too.

5
Before you get started
6
Avoid strains, sprains, and back injury

• Warm-up and stretch before beginning strenuous
  activities.
• Always lift properly -- use your legs, not your
  back.
• Get help moving bulky or heavy loads, or break
  them up into several smaller, more manageable
  loads.

7
Prevent heat injuries, sunburn, and eyestrain

• Take frequent rest breaks.
• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing made of
  fabrics that can breath.
• Wear sunglasses.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use sunscreen.

8
Protect your feet

• Wear shoes that protect your feet and provide
  comfort and safety.
• When applying powdered or oily chemicals, wear
  rubber boots that can be easily hosed off.

9
Protect your hands

• Wear leather gloves to prevent cuts, splinters,
  blisters, and burns.
• Wear chemical resistant gloves when mixing
  chemicals.

10
Protect your eyes

• Wear safety glasses or goggles when you tackle
  tasks such as mowing, blowing, weed-whacking, and
  pruning.

11
Protect your hearing

• Wear earplugs when operating a mower,
  weed-whacker, blower or other noisy equipment.

12
Protect your lungs and nasal passages

• Wear a dust mask when performing tasks that
  create a lot of dust.
• Wear a respirator with cartridges to filter out
  harmful particles and droplets when applying
  liquid or powdered garden chemicals.

13
Also

• Do not wear rings, jewelry, or loose clothing
  that could become caught in moving parts.
• Knee pads offer both comfort and protection for
  chores, such as weeding and planting, that
  require you to kneel for extended periods.

14
Using your tools andequipment
15
Power lawn mowers

• Always keep kids and pets 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.

16
Also

• Completely fill the mower before starting, so you
  will not have to pour gasoline into a hot mower
  in the middle of the job.
• NEVER reach under the mower unless it is turned
  off and the blade has stopped completely.

17
And

• Never disable or remove safety devices such as
  automatic shutoffs and blade guards.
• Avoid tipping when using a riding mower, by
  cutting slopes up and down, not side to side.

18
Chipper-shredders

• Keep kids and pets away from the area.
• Stay clear of the discharge area.
• Always use the plunger to push material into the
  shredding chamber.
• Turn the machine off and wait for all moving
  parts to stop before unclogging it.

19
Whackers and edgers

• Wear protective clothing and safety equipment.
• Keep kids and pets away from the area.
• Take frequent breaks to give your arms a rest
  from the vibration.

20
Power tools

• Read the owners manual before using any power
  tool.
• Inspect tools before use and replace or repair
  them if they are worn or damaged.
• Inspect screws, nuts, and bolts to make sure they
  are tightened.

21
Also

• Before plugging or unplugging tools, turn the
  power switch to OFF.
• Never clean or repair a tool unless the power is
  disconnected.
• Remove the plug from the outlet to disconnect
  power, never yank on the cord.

22
And

• Plug electrical tools into outlets protected with
  ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
• Choose power tools that are grounded or double
  insulated.
• Extension cords should be the heavy-duty, outdoor
  kind.

23
Hand tools

• Use each tool for the specific task it was
  designed to do.
• Inspect tools before use and replace or repair
  them if they are worn or damaged.
• Lubricate tools with joints and rollers and clean
  tools after each use.

24
Also

• Keep points of shovels, spades, trowels, and
  forks smooth and correctly shaped.
• When hand-carrying tools, point them away from
  you, toward the ground.
• Do not let tools laying around when not in use.

25
Ladders

• Inspect ladders before use and repair or replace
  them if they are damaged.
• Place ladders on firm level ground.
• Follow the recommended guidelines for choosing
  the appropriate angle when leaning ladders
  against structures.

26
And ..

• Keep both hands on rungs when climbing.
• Prevent tipping by not over reaching.
• Never step on the top two rungs of a ladder.

27
Plan for other environmental hazards
28
Herbicides and pesticides

• Read labels carefully and follow directions.
• Store chemicals on high shelves or inside locked
  cabinets.
• Better yet, use non-poisonous methods where ever
  possible. For example, soapy water will eliminate
  aphids from your roses.

29
Enamel paint

• Open doors and windows to ventilate the area your
  are painting.
• Eliminate all sources of ignition. Remember
  electrical equipment can cause sparks.
• Clean up spills promptly.
• Keep containers closed when not in use.

30
Gasoline

• Use a safety can approved for flammable liquids
  to store gasoline.
• During transport, place the safety can in your
  trunk, and keep the trunk lid slightly open.
• Never smoke when fueling or using
  gasoline-powered tools.

31
Poisonous plants

• Learn how to recognize poison ivy, oak and sumac
  and avoid them.
• If you do come in contact with them, wash your
  skin thoroughly with water or alcohol wipes.
• Thoroughly clean contaminated tools and clothing
  before using them again.

32
Bees and wasps

• Dont bother bees and they wont bother you.
• If you find a swarm in your house, get
  professional help from a beekeeper or
  exterminator.

33
Poisonous snakes

• When removing rocks and logs, turn them toward
  you so you will be shielded if snakes are
  underneath them.
• Handle freshly killed snakes with a long tool or
  stick, as snakes can inflict fatal bites by
  reflex action even after they are dead.

34
And finally,

• Remember, working safely in and around your
  home will not only keep you out of the emergency
  room, it can keep you from becoming the next
  Darwin Awards Winner!
• Happy Spring Cleaning!