If you are frequently in a workshop, you're likely exposed to many risks. Workshops are hazardous environments both by nature and the activities people carry out in them. Therefore, it's essential that you're aware of these hazards and how to protect your health and safety. This article outlines common workshop hazards and control measures that you can take to reduce them.
What are the most common workshop hazards?
There are many jobs associated with workshops, such as carpentry, welding, and paint spraying. Each role comes with different hazards and can make workshops dangerous places to occupy.
The top 15 workshop hazards are:
• Lack of guards or screens on equipment or around dangerous areas.
• Damaged or misused guards.
• Lack of adequate ventilation and temperature.
• No safety signs, outdated safety signs, and broken safety signs.
• Machinery left unattended while in use.
• Obstructions - of fire exits, cut-out switches, etc.
• Cluttered workstations.
• Trailing wires and cables.
• Chemical substances in unmarked containers.
• Chemical splashes.
• Incorrect tools used for tasks.
• Confined spaces.
• Electric shocks, burns, or fires.
• Lone working.
• Sharp items.
How to reduce hazards in your workshop
Workshops are clearly dangerous environments and so you should do all you can to reduce the level of risk. Often, you can easily reduce risks through a few small steps, some of which we've outlined below.
This story is from the January/February 2023 edition of The Home Handyman.
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This story is from the January/February 2023 edition of The Home Handyman.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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