DIY Home Repair Safety

If you own a chain saw (or simply want one), you know how useful they are for felling trees, clearing deadfall and preparing firewood. But along with their usefulness comes the potential for injury.

Hurricane Dean, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, is tearing through the Caribbean islands. More will follow, due largely to the rapid dissipation of El Nino conditions. What can you do to prepare your home for the season? Here are 15 tips. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that 13,300 structural fires are caused by clothes dryers accounting for an average of 10 deaths, 280 injuries and $97 million dollars in property damage every year. 

Hanging drywall can be a pain, which is why the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released recommendations to help prevent injuries, especially to the back, during drywall installation.

As summer vacation approaches, children will soon abandon school playgrounds for backyard play sets. To help keep kids safe, inspect your play set using this checklist from The National Safety Council.

We consulted physical therapist Maurie Steinley, P.T., M.S., of the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for tips on how to make some common lifting situations safer. Here's his advice.

Respirators are the first line of defense against dangerous dusts, mists, fumes, vapors and gases. With a lineup that includes a half-mask with assorted cartridges, a full hood and disposable respirators, you'll be prepared with the right protection for just about any circumstance.

Here’s advice on using your ladder without getting injured.

A safe room provides refuge during violent windstorms. It can be a freestanding structure like the room shown, or you can reinforce a bathroom or closet during home construction.

Natural disasters can happen anywhere to anyone. Being prepared can greatly soften the blow most disasters inflict, and simple actions afterwards can put you on the road to recovery. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.