Always Pay Attention Around Power Tools
Photo by rakhmat suwandi on Unsplash
mmm, where to begin with this piece of advice…
🧰 It should be obvious that when in the presence of tools or equipment that could cause serious injury, one should be aware and take proper precautions to avoid accidents.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a lesson that is learned by doing 🫣, but let’s go through some steps to prevent it from happening again…shall we?
Here are the minimum requirements to run any kind of power tool:
PPE
Training
Focus
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
This is the USA industry speak for “shit that covers your important shit” so really it should be STCYIS, but that has less of a ring than PPE. PPE includes gloves 🧤, eyewear 👓, head covering 👷, feet covering 🥾, apron, etc. Anything that is designed to protect your soft, fleshy body from blades 🪓, sparks 💥, or objects that can be flown at you 🥏.
Now, I grew up in a house that didn’t take the necessary credence for PPE. Yes, we wore gloves - sometimes. Ear protection - never. Helmets or protective glasses - never.
Don’t be like my family, buy your frickin’ PPE!
Let’s take a hypothetical example. Say that you’re out trimming hedges with a power trimmer and you ACCIDENTALLY bring your left hand a little too close to the trimmer without wearing proper PPE. The best case scenario is that you mangle your finger. Let’s not think about the worst-case scenario.
However, IF you remember to wear gloves and you HAPPEN to bring your left hand to the trimmer, the trimmer will likely catch your glove and you can pull your hand away with little to no damage done to your phalanges. Or maybe not, PPE is not armor.
Training
Please never pick up a power tool without proper training. No one is around to help you? Then DEFINITELY don’t use it 🙅!
Nowadays there are wonderful places like MakersSpaces where you can learn how to properly use a power tool. At a minimum, you can check out manufacturers’ videos or the guy-down-the-street’s YouTube channel. Heck, go down and introduce yourself to the guy and ask for help - EVERYONE likes to give help when asked politely, especially with a 6-pack 🍻 in your hand.
You may think that something looks harmless, but anything that needs a power source (and some things that don’t) can be harmful to you.
When in doubt, wait and ask for help.
Focus
The last thing is all up to you. No one can do this for you.
You can wear all the PPE and be a seasoned professional, but if your mind is somewhere else than on the task at hand - accidents can happen.
Some things you can do to help you focus.
take a few deep breaths and focus on your breathing 😮💨
turn off your phone 📵 or put it somewhere you can’t hear it (a bing from a notification can instantly distract you)
visualize what you are working on and what you need to do
while working, go slowly and be aware of your body and surroundings
Ok, I’m sure it will be a while before you pick up another power tool but keep these points in mind. While this information from your Aunt Meggie is a good starting point, I am in no way an expert on power tools. FIND AN EXPERT and LEARN the best way to use and be safe around whatever tools you are using.
❤️
