Our Safe building, DIY and tool use guide.

1. Safety consciousness is vital for DIY and building

When you make the bold decision to build something as a qualified chippy or as a DIY’er, it is important to step back on every task to think about what you are doing and what tool you are using so you can identify, isolate/ remove, or minimize any potential safety issues or obvious hazards before an accident occurs while progressing your professional or personal DIY creations.

Safety can be improved with safer building methods, a safer, cleaner workspace layout, appropriate training, and picking the safest tool or piece of equipment for the job. And, of course, wearing the appropriate PPE gear when necessary, like safety glasses, steel cap boots, and hearing and lung protection.

Safety can be extended to working practices that look after your long-term body posture. And reduce the chances of repetitive strain injury (RSI).

2. Only operate tools you are comfortable with

Before using any building equipment or power tool you are not professionally familiar with or have been trained to use by a professional, you need to find someone with qualified experience to guide you and watch you in action in real life when you first start to use it, to learn safe working habits.

Someone with the right experience can generally tell if you are safely using a tool or not by watching you, this advice can greatly reduce your chances of injury or death.

All new apprentices on the building site are watched when operating tools they are not yet confident or familiar with.

Bad technique is the leading reason for accidents, a mistake or bad technique can easily be noticed and fixed by other experienced workers watching you before an accident get a chance to occur.

Before using any building equipment or power tool you are not professionally familiar with or have been trained to use by a professional, you need to find someone with qualified experience to guide you.

And will watch you in action in real life when you first start to learn so that you inherit safe working habits and techniques from the beginning.

Take responsibility at all times. And please don’t hesitate to ask for more help. support@bangingtoolbox.com

3. Let us help you with your power tool safety

Here at Banging Toolbox, Aaron Barnet is qualified and has gained ample experience using a full range of power tools and hand tools available on the market.

Tool safety is a factor that goes into all of our tool guides and tool recommendations here.

4. Find real-life guidance

We share tips and preferences for safe tool choices and building methods. Although it is important to know that just like any online building resource, we can never replace someone in real life with building and tool-specific experience guiding you.

Someone with the right experience can tell if you are safely using a tool or not by watching you. This advice can greatly reduce your chances of injury or death.

All new apprentices on the building site are watched when operating tools they are not yet confident or familiar with. Bad technique is a reason for accidents and can be easily noticed and fixed by others before an accident could occur.

5. Check with manufacturers and wear PPE

Before using any tools, products, or equipment, you should always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions, warnings, and your local safety policies.

Wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) as specified, and never do something you are not comfortable and confident doing when your day comes to the safety of yourself or others. Even on the ‘Jobsite’.

Tell your boss not to be so cheap if he’s talking shortcuts.

6. Be aware of the reality of the danger

Accidents always have a probability of happening, even if they are greatly reduced with proper training, safer equipment choice, and safer building methods.

That is why we advocate the importance of always improving your procedures and equipment and always looking at safety as sometimes to improve inside your worksite, garage, or workshop.

Building and construction safety is an ongoing process of being highly conscious throughout your activities. Take necessary action to eliminate risks or aggressively minimize potential risks before one can happen.

Stay continually informed. Step back before starting each task to think about it, and be prepared in case an accident does happen.

1. Never work alone.
2. Know what you are doing.
3. Step back and think of the risks before you start every new task.
4. Plan to get training in first aid.
5. Always have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in your workspace.
6. Know where the closest defibrillator is located and the phone number of its location (Supermarkets usually).

7. Start conservatively

If you are new to DIY, don’t go straight for the biggest power tool; get practice with safer alternatives like hand tools or cordless tools.

As you get more skills and experience, you can slowly open up your garage to having more powerful equipment on hand to help you get your jobs done.

8. Cordless power tools are safer.

Cordless power tools are less powerful, but they are a safer tool choice because they are easier to control while being more convenient and able to get the job done.

Cordless power tools can still be dangerous if incorrectly used, however. Hand tools are the best way to get started, to get your coordination skills sufficient first before moving to power tools.

9. Required licenses

There are many laws and regulations around safe building practices in a commercial environment.

However, when your time comes for DIY and home repairs, you need to take safety into your own hands. It is your responsibility to keep yourself and others safe by doing your research and staying informed with your local rules and regulations.

Bangintoolbox caters to a broad audience, so you have to double-check your local rules and regulations if licences are required for you.

Power tool licenses

Some power tools have an option for getting a license to operate them, but they are mostly optional rather than a requirement for home and DIY settings.

Nailguns – You can get a nailgun license from companies like Paslode, but this is just an option in most countries.

Power-accrued fasteners – For shooting nails into concrete or steel using an explosive charge, you need a license for operation in many countries, and some high-powered models are banned in some countries. However, they work really well when used correctly.

10. Refer to the official safety rules for your area

(Everyone knows).