Occasionally I like to provide my readers with guest posts that I feel they can relate to and lately with the amount of do it yourself projects I have been featuring I felt this would be a great topic…. read on!

When you have kids, you always want to find ways to make your home that bit safer. Sash Windows Workshop has provided a step by step safety guide to when doing those handy man jobs around the house, to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones. Especially when the men of the house lose the run of themselves, tell them have a quick look over these precautions.

General Safety

- Don’t attempt to complete a project when you’re not feeling 100 percent fit or fully confident in your task – it’s extremely dangerous. It’s unadvised when you’re tired, feeling under the weather or under the influence of alcohol.

- Wear the correct eye protection when working with any power or striking tools.

- When dealing with dust, make sure you wear a hair net and a dust mask around your mouth and nose.

- Keep all blades, bits and other cutting parts on the power tools at all times. Dull tools can require you to apply extra force, which can lead to injuries.

- Make sure your working area is well lit, free from obstructions and interference i.e. clothing, long hair and jewellery.

- Turn off breakers or remove fuses when working on all electrical projects.

When using Adhesives:

- Read precautions and abide by them. If you’re uncertain make sure you contact the provider or a person whom you think will know more on the subject.

- Make sure you have adequate ventilation when handling flammable and noxious chemicals.

- When using flammable materials, shut off pilot lights on furnaces, hot water tanks and stoves.

When using Power Tools:

- Make sure you are following the instructions correctly and take heed of the safety precautions. Use the tool only for its intended purpose Use a tool only for its envisioned application. Make sure you know what the tool can and can’t do.

- Ensure the machinery is turned off when changing or installing new parts i.e. blades..

- Make sure your hands are safely positioned at all times especially when dealing with bladed tools.

When using Ladders & Scaffolds:

- Ensure when using a step ladder it is stable and positioned correctly on the floor, with the four legs strong and secure. Make sure there is someone supporting the ladder if you are not fully confident that the ladder can support you full body weight.

- Your weight should be the central focal point of the ladder. The ladder should be the correct distance from the surface you are resting it against.

- Make sure that all legs of a scaffold are firmly planted on solid ground. If you are using a scaffold make sure it is secure and stand on platforms between the supports. Make sure there is nobody underneath the scaffold, as its common machinery or tools can fall from the scaffold making it extremely dangerous.

I hope these guidelines helps prevent some injuries and supplies some answers to questions you may have had about D.I.Y. Remember it’s better to be safe than sorry!