Good topic. I also use a GFCI in the basement. I have two that plug into an outlet and then plug the tools into it.
Enjoy
Paul
Here’s one for year round: Keep your work area neat. Slipping and falling is a common, almost always avoidable accident. In conjunction with this, watch where you are going. While you may not make the international news feeds a la Falldel Castro, falling in a crowded workshop without dozens of flunkies around can be a very bad thing.
I’m sittin here at 6am (can’t sleep) reading back threads and I am suprised noone added to be EXTRA careful in setting up the christmas lay-outs under the tree. Unless you have seen it with your own eyes, you can not understand just how fast a live christmas tree will ignite and turn a room into a raging ball of fire. In my 18 yrs on the job, I have seen more than my fair share of homes destroyed and lives lost because of carelessness around these trees. One fire that stands out in my memories more than others occurred back in 1993. An entire family of 5 was killed when their tree ignited early Christmas morning as they sat unwrapping presents. The tree ignited so fast it instantly created a flashover in the room, killing all 5 members of the family instantly. A flashover is, for those who aren’t familiar with the term, when all the objects in the room reach a temp at which they give off enough vapor to ignight and sustain cumbustion. Usually, this takes a few minutes of free burning, if it happens at all. I remember rolling up on that particular job. The home was your typical ranch style house. The amount of fire coming out of the windows and front door was incredible, and we arrived in less than 7 minutes of the initial alarm. To make a long story short, the family had zero chance of escaping, and they all died basically where that sat. The cause of the fire? After days of investigation, (this fire recieved extra special attention due to the number of deaths and intensity of the flames), it was discovered that there was an electric train set around the tree, and it had been running at the time the fire started. . It was presumed that the tree hadn’t been watered in a while , which caused the rapid expansion and heavy quick heat build up when the fire started. The point of origin was determined to be the transformer.
I usually have a train set going around our tree, but since that fire, I have switched to a battery operated Lionel set.
Thanks for all the tips and the reminder about safety.
Respectfully,
Flip
Thanks. [tup] Good reminders, all.
Interesting point about trains around the tree. I set up an LGB set under our tree last year, and followed these practices (which might be good practice, they seemed so to me anyway). I made sure the powerpack was off the ground on a chair - stopping the vent holes from being blocked and thus avoiding overheating. We also make sure to keep the tree stood in water - this helps avoid needle drop as well as stopping the tree drying out. Keeping the powerpack off the floor also helps in that it’s well clear of any possible flooding and/or spillages (not had one yet, but there’s a first time for everything). Apart from that, switching the power supply off when there was nobody about (as is a good idea with anything) seemed a safe enough approach.
Stop and Look both ways before crossing track… [;)]
Bump!
Don’t forget the hearing protection when using power tools.
Nick
Thanks for the reminder. I know some of us get in heated arguements sometimes, but nobody want another fellow MRR to get hurt.
Huh? What? Just a second while I turn up my hearing aids! Good point Nick! I am a professional musician and even though my own voice was likely the cause of much of my hearing loss, working with equipment that was over the safe range (tractors without mufflers, chain saws, lawn mowers and many electric tools) I’m sure has taken a toll. You think the new Locos are expensive, My hearing aids were over $3500 a pair. They are not even the “state of the art” ones. Lets see that would be how many new locos and frieght cars? Protect your hearing (and turn the i-pod down)…
What a COINCIDENCE!
This happened to me at 2:00 this afternoon:
(…and it was a gusher!)
Here is how it happened:
The insulation I was slicing suddenly gave way, and the sharp point of the rail nippers lodged itself just under my left thumbnail.
Here is what would have prevented it:
Just thought I’d share another “lesson learned…”[:D]
Good advice. We all need to be reminded of these things from time to time. I have the power to my workbenches controlled by wall switches. When the switch is off, so is everything on the benches, including the lights, so I can’t forget to turn off the power.
I stand to be corrected on this by those more knowlegable, but we need to keep in mind that smoke detectors, CO detectors and fire extinguishers don’t last for ever. I have been told that smoke detectors need to be replaced after about 10-12 years and CO detectors after about 5 years. I have also been told that even though the gauge on a fire extinguisher shows full pressure, it should be replaced after a certain number of years, but I don’t know how many.
And, yes, it’s fall, so when you change your clocks next weekend, change your smoke detector batteries.
We do the battery replacement twice every year in our smoke detectors…and we also have a “family evacuation plan” for the members of the family, in case of something happening when everyone is asleep.
We haven’t practiced it lately…hmmmmm…perhaps a fire drill is in order!!!
the only major accident i have had was a large slitting disc that i had in my dremel. i ran it too fast and the next thing i heard was a MASSIVE explosion. i only had a few cuts and a broken window of my local club but i was amazed at how much damage such a tiny thing that i had always taken for granted could cause. i have a new respect for slitting discs.
Peter
Uhh… Which voice are we supposed to listen to again ? [swg]
Sorry, couldn’t resist. [;)]
Actually, Polizi is right. Most of the time, our “gut feelings” are right on the money.
A great idea, Paul. It seems great minds think alike. [swg]
This is what I did …
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connect one outlet to a GFCI outlet (to give me four protected places to plug things into);
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both outlets are controled by a switch (with an indicator light to show if its turned on); and
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plug the whole contraption into a wall outlet.
At a glance, I can tell if the entire layout (any tools that might be plugged in) is powered up. With the flip of a single switch, I can turn off everything in the train room (except for the lights). The GFCI should help protect against any shortcircuits better than the fuses.
These are all great tips. Also, don’t forget to replace the filter in your heating/AC unit and clean out the vents. You don’t want to inhale mold, dust, and other stuff that can make running your trains very unpleasant not only to you, but others that come over to visit your layout.
On the same topic as filters, be sure to replace the one in your mask when you spray paint.
Take care,
Russell
On the topic of christmas trees, are the plastic ones at all inflammable when compared to real ones? I was thinking of setting a loop up this year, so I can run my new loco immediately!
Also, how do oily rags ignite without a spark? I’ve been told never to store them in a pile or together, but I thought it had something to do with a possible fire getting much bigger fast.
Matthew
Oily rags heat up as the dry off, the hotter they getting the faster the reaction takes place. In a pile this builds up until the ignition point of the rags is reached and then they spontaneously combust. So be safe.
The question on oily rags reminds me of two BIG points in our regular update fire training:-
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Don’t forget to ensure that fire exit routes are kept clear… INSIDE AND OUT… if it’s a door that you don’t usually/frequently use… make sure that age/weather/paint/distortion/anything else hasn’t jammed it up. Make sure everyone knows to never block it outside… not even for “just a moment”.
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Heavier than air solvent fumes… you probably don’t smoke around your layout/workbench these days BUT…
Remember… ANY spark and many sources of heat can ignite solvent fumes
THEY HANG AROUND a long time unless you actively vent them away
Getting stoned on them is not a good idea either… so (maybe) be suspicious if your 13 year old suddenly takes an interest in your modelling when you are glueing things…