Are you building a deck or outdoor living space out of timber for your home? In any situation where you are working with timber it is important that you follow the appropriate safety tips.

Wear the Right Protection

When you are handling and working with treated timber you should be wearing gloves and eye protection and you should be working a well-ventilated area – in order to avoid being exposed to the chemicals that the timber is treated with. Also, after you have been working with treated timber you should wash your hands thoroughly before smoking or eating.

Practice Safe Lifting

Timber can be heavy, so make sure that you are using the right techniques when lifting it so that you don’t hurt yourself. Spread your feet wide, bend at the knees and keep your back straight. If the timber is too heavy to lift on your own, ask a friend to help. One of the most common at home construction injuries is a strain or muscle injury due to improper lifting.

Avoid Getting Distracted

When you are working with timber there are many ways that you could be interrupted by a distraction, which could potentially cause you injury. Even if you get a text message or someone calls your name, make sure that you finish the cut you are making or the action you are performing with a power tool. Don’t take your attention away from the woodworking tool until the task has been completed and the tool has been turned off.

Don’t Burn Your Extra Timber

Also, due to the chemicals within the timber, which are applied to make it last longer and protect it from mould and insects, you should not burn the timber off-cuts. Dispose of them in a safe manner as refuse instead, to avoid polluting the air with harmful chemical preservatives. Also, you should not use your timber off cuts for composting or mulching.

Wait Until After to Crack Open that Beer

It is unsafe to do any construction project if you are under the influence of alcohol. While it might seem harmless, it is a much better idea to wait until you are finished building your timber deck before you celebrate with a cold one. Alcohol and power tools don’t mix.

These are just a few of the important safety tips that you should keep in mind when you are working with timber to build an outdoor living space. Building with timber can be a lot of fun, but it is always crucial to ensure that you are following safe working practices – no one wants their DIY project to end with an unexpected trip to the emergency room!