Please allow me to apoligize to anyone if this is in any way off topic.
Alas Summer in most of the U.S. is comming to an end and with the approaching cold many a model railroader will be heading to his or her favorite work place to begin anew another season of work.
With this in mind I would like to remind everyone no matter where you live to please remember some simple safety round the shop or house or both.
If you are painting please have proper ventilation and refrain from too many fumes or vapors around any open flames, Please also remeber that these fumes and vapors can and will sink to floor level and creep around and they can find ignition in places like hot water takes that are gas heated and gas furnaces as well.
Please check all smoke detectors and CO2 detectors and replace the batteries. It is that time of year to replace them. If you do not have smoke detectors or CO2 detectors buy them or check with your local Fire Department some have them to give away for free (we have given away of $5000.00 worth this year). They may save your life or your family.
I wanted to tell you all this because well I am a firefighter and I would hate to read that something that was preventable had happened to one of you. Plus my other motivation was that I may need your help with something in the future and you need to be here to help.
Will “Aka Polizi”
Firefighter/NREMT
“When the alarm drop the Bull @#$# Stops”
Not off topic at all…this is very important information to remember, . I’m in a garage so I dont worry tto much about fumes but for those in a basement, very important. Good of you to post it.
Will–not off topic at all, and thanks very much for the wake-up call. I know myself, that when I go out into the garage to work on the layout, I can often put on ‘mental blinders’ when it comes to safety and ventilation. Thanks again, you’re my hero. Well, next to John Wayne, that is.
Tom
From one firefighter to another, thanks for the reminder. All it takes is one little mistake or act of unintentional carelessness and it can change our lives forever. One thing I would like to add to the original post, not only speaking as a firefighter/paramedic, but as the father of a 4 year old who absolutely loves trains and ‘helping’ out Dad in building their lay-out: take extra care if the kids are around your lay-out or workshop area. As sensible adults, we know what that razor knife and those paint thinners and other chemicals or tools can do if they aren’t handled or used correctly. Children don’t. Please, keep any dangerous chemicals or sharp tools well out of the reach of the little ones. Kids are curious by nature and we don’t need any of them getting hurt because of our carelessness.
This is a topic rarely discussed on the Forum but one that should be reviewed from time to time.
Things I’ve done to keep the place safe is:
All combustibles are in a metal cabinet away from heat sources. I only keep small amounts of combustibles in the workshop
Saw dust is swept up and not allowed to pile up
Oily rags are disposed of properly and not put in a pile as this can and will lead to spontaneous combustion (ask one of my neighbors, they leveled their place. Linseed Oil is good one for this!)
Install a fan over the workshop
Go with low-level toxic solvents/products, if they come with MSDS sheets read them.
No bare wires!
Check your circuit breakers from time to time as inactivity can cause them to stick when needed.
Bare lights should be protected.
Paint outdoors and allow your work to off gas in a well-ventilated area for several days.
Check your fire extinguishers from time to time and remind people they are not coat racks.
Fire warning is an appropriate topic this time of year, especially for those who use space heaters. John Allen’s layout was destroyed by a defective electric space heater after his death.
who says i don’t need to wear safety glasses when i operate my dremel tool?..OH…MY EYE!!!..yes…we all must be safe in the hobby room…my dad was a professional fire fighter and he used to unplug every appliance in the house if it wasn’t running…he made us wear safety gear when we did anything with tools…it’s a good practice…one careless slip of a tool because we were too lazy to don the protection and it’s all over…Chuck
I never really considered ALL the safety tips that I’ve read on this very post,I will put them all to good use in my work and operations. Thanks[8D][:)][angel][bow][tup]
Good tips, polizi. Things we should all remember. As Fergie said, oily rags are some of the most dangerous. My neighbors house burned down because he threw it in the trash! Leave them sitting out in an open pkace until they dry properly.
Watch the power tools. If they have guards see that they are in good working order. One of the guys I work with has been a carpenter for 30 years. Worked with power tools all that time. He removed the guard on a table saw last year to make some wood parts for the roller coaster. You guest it he cut off the end of his thumb. Remember, familiarty breeds contempt.
P.S.
Ferg watch the soldering iron. (Sorry I just couldn’t resist.)
Safety is no accident.
Not just the power tools, but the non-powered ones as well.
I’ve always seemed to have a problem with Exacto knives rolling off the workbench almost spearing my legs or feet as they fall, but no more!
Go to your local school supply store, and get the triangular pencil grips. They come in bright colors (so you can find your knife on a crowded bench) and once the grip is installed, its impossible for the knife to roll![:D]
224 views on this post out of all that did view if it save one Layout or life I have done my Job. I appreciate all of your kindness in reading and for responding. There are many safety tip that should be past on but the one I missed should have been:
Common Sense- if you think its not right or unsafe correct the problem right then.
I might regret this next statement but here goes “listen to that little voice its usually right”