Keeping safe in the shed

I was opening the door to my shed recently and was going through some of the things you would typically find in the average home garage or shed.  

There are so many objects and materials that can cause injury and that are not always operated, maintained or stored in a best practice manner. Sometimes the rigour that is applied in a workplace toward OHS is missing when it comes to the home shed.

My shed contains the following and I ask you to consider what injuries can be sustained by incorrect operation, maintenance or storage of each item:

• Ride on mower
• Push petrol powered mower
• Whipper snipper petrol operated
• Leaf blower
• Petrol - 2 stoke and unleaded
• Oils-  various
• Electric tools – grinders, drills, saws, sanders
• High pressure water cleaner
• Hand tools
• Chemicals - herbicides and poisons

Above all it is important so secure the shed from unsupervised access by children.

Next time you are out in the shed take a good look around and see if there is anything you can do to make the place safer.

Remember all incidents and injuries are preventable. The better planned and prepared we are the less likelihood of an incident.

Kevin Bassett

Corporate Safety Manager