Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [safety]

For questions generally relating to preventing or avoiding injury in the home or on the job site.

763 questions
22
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9 answers

Which tools should not be operated while wearing gloves?

Does anyone know of any safety organization like OSHA that gives a list of tools that should not be operated while wearing gloves? It has always been my understanding that a person should not wear gloves when operating any rotating tool because of…
Louis Woods
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20
votes
9 answers

What basic safety equipment should everyone have?

When doing DIY what safety kit should everyone have (and use)?
Walker
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19
votes
6 answers

What sorts of appliances will malfunction on a reversed AC outlet?

The house I recently acquired had some wiring done in the basement by the previous owner. I've identified 3 outlets (all on the same circuit) where the live and neutral wires are reversed. I've switched off the breaker to that circuit so people…
Octopus
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12
votes
2 answers

What's the appropriate range for the angle of a slide?

I'm building a slide, but I can't find any information on what angles are safe yet fun. What's the appropriate range of angles for a slide?
Seph Reed
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6
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4 answers

How do you maintain good posture when working on things on the floor?

Over the past few days I've been working on some aluminum frames which are fairly large and don't fit on any tables (without stuff piled on them) I have. Now, my back is starting to hurt from being hunched over for so long. (How) can I work on…
Nick T
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6
votes
2 answers

Charring on live wire

I replaced a single socket with a double today in a new build house we've lived in for around a year. Upon disconnecting the live wire I noticed it was blackened and looks to have caused some arc damage to the plastic moulding of the single socket…
Echilon
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5
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1 answer

Should I remove limbs before felling a tree?

I'm going to fell a 75' pine in my yard. Should I cut limbs before felling the tree even if they are balanced? I've seen mixed advice. On one hand removing limbs makes the fell more predictable and lighter. On the other,limbs will help a felled tree…
Matthew
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3
votes
3 answers

Replacing hardwired fire alarms with 10 year sealed alarms

My house was built in 2004 and came with fire alarms pre-installed and hardwired. The alarms also use a 9V battery backup, so we have to replace the batteries regularly (not an easy task with 9 ft ceilings, neither of us is exceptionally tall). It's…
Zaralynda
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2
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2 answers

When does one get a new extinguisher or recharge?

Do you have to recharge a fire extinguisher every year even if if still shows some charge? Is the year the standard or does it depend on whether the extinguisher is showing no charge? What if it still shows a charge but it is not fully charged? In…
arthur lambert
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2
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2 answers

Roof Safety: Proper way to adjust position of carabiner/lanyard on rope attached at the top of the roof

Here's a diagram of a typical harness system: X | | | ?-C-L-H | | | X = attachment point | = rope C = carabiner L = shock-absorbing lanyard H = harness What's the device called that allows you to slide up and down the rope, but it bites into the…
Michael
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2
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3 answers

Safe, sensible to turn off BRANCH circuit breaker for range, every day when house is empty?

After one oven turned itself on middle night, everyone in my family is now scared stiff silly of ranges!!! We always turn off all Branch Circuit Breakers ("BCB") except for fridge, before we leave condo to vacation. We livein Toronto Canada.…
user54670
1
vote
1 answer

Where can I find Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS's)?

Are there government websites where I can view MSDS's? Or do I need to go to the manufacturer's website or make a request to the manufacturer for the MSDS's?
Luke1018
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vote
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Using a charcoal BBQ, how far should I be away from the house?

Are there any guidelines or rules anywhere?
txwikinger
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1
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1 answer

Is it legal for a stairwell balustrade to be removable?

Can balustrades be removable or should they be fixed? I am a tenant and the current property has a balustrade in the attic bedroom that is removable and made from thin off cuts of wood. This makes it very wobbly and you can't lean on it. The…
Gail
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0 answers

File cabinet drawer falls out

enter image description hereOne drawer falls out when roller slides are extended. I cannot see what is supposed to stop it. The hems on the sides of the drawer near the bottom (Left side of pic 1) are smooth. There is a tilted flange on the slide…
Mark
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