Ladders

Lots of DIY accidents happen when people don't take care while on ladders and, obviously, the higher the ladder, the more dangerous it potentially is. It's always a good idea to have someone else around when you're up a ladder, just in case anything happens to you. This is especially true if you're working outside and might not be found for some time if you fall.

Before getting on a ladder, make sure you've got sturdy, sensible shoes on and not ones that will slip off easily. Ensuring that the ladder is positioned safely is also a key factor. Ladders designed for use inside the home are fairly straightforward to get right. There should be instructions with them about how much weight they can take, which side you can safely climb up (on ladders where you can mount both sides) and about only using them with the safety catches locked in place, etc, but outside ladders can be trickier to make safe.

Ideally, the ladder should have non-slip feet, so look out for those if you're buying or hiring one. It should be placed on a firm, level surface and the top should rest against something solid, but not guttering or window panes or sills.

To prevent the ladder from slipping, secure both the top and bottom with straps or ropes and clips or hooks, ensuring it's anchored to something strong and sturdy. If you can get someone to hold the ladder while you're up it, even better.

When you have to move the ladder, get someone to help you again if possible and never stretch or overreach when you're up it because this could destabilise you or it ‒ move it instead.

The angle of the ladder is another important consideration when it comes to safety. To work this out, simply make sure that the distance of the feet from the wall is 25 per cent of the ladder's height.

Electricity

Electricity is another danger area for DIYers and doesn't, of course, mix with water. This means that even if you're just washing down walls in preparation for decorating, you should turn the electricity off first. If you get water into any of the sockets or switches, don't use them until you're positive they've dried out.

Another thing you mustn't get wet, especially if you're outside, is an extension cable. These often need to be uncoiled before use because they may overheat: check the instructions to find out.

When using power tools (or any electrical device) outside or in damp conditions, ensure you use a residual current device or power breaker, which will automatically cut off the electricity if an accident happens or the tool malfunctions.

Whenever you're plugging power tools in, be sure not to overload the socket with plugs. This, of course, applies to sockets in general. And if you're ever changing or checking plugs, ensure that the connections inside are tight and that the cord grip is tight around the cable, rather than the wires.

Moulded plugs are commonplace these days and allow you to easily change the fuse but not get inside the plug. It goes without saying that you should never do anything to a plug unless it's unplugged, you shouldn't tamper with moulded plugs, apart from the fuse, and you shouldn't wire a conventional (non-moulded) plug unless you're sure how the connections go.

If a power tool stops working, changing the fuse is one of the first things you should try (if it has blown, switch off the electricity and unplug it immediately). It may be that it doesn't have the right fuse. To check what the fuse should be, read the manufacturer's instructions or look on the plug itself. Alternatively, fuse packets and reliable DIY websites and books should have this information. They should also tell you how to wire a plug safely.

Kinked, damaged or frayed cables make a power tool or appliance unsafe to use, and remember not to adjust or clean power tools when they're plugged in. If you're at all unsure about anything electrical, stop what you're doing and ask an expert. This will help keep you safe when doing DIY.




QUICK FIX - short answers to tricky questions

Q: I'm about to put up some shelves: Can I put them anywhere?

A: No, you must first check that it's safe to do so, i.e. that there are no pipes or electrical cables in the wall where you're about to drill. You can buy (inexpensive) detectors specifically for this. Some also detect studs, which are useful if you want to put up heavy things like shelves.

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