What’s the most common danger in tackling a home repair project? Bashing your thumb? Cutting off a fingertip? Falling off a ladder? Getting a shock? Scaring away your friends? Nope. Following proper safety measures can eliminate these dangers.
It’s back pain, and it’s worse, because people don’t usually think about it.
But a little care and preventive measures eliminates this problem too.
Here are a few ideas.
Stand right. When you’re hammering or sawing (by hand or table saw), keep your legs apart as if you’re about to start walking, bend your knees slightly and keep your back as straight as possible. (You’ll feel it in your thighs.) If you have a free hand, support yourself with it on the bench. Avoid bending over your work as much as possible. You can make this easier by keeping your work surface about waist-height.
Pick up properly. When lifting heavy objects, squat, keeping your back straight. Lift with your legs; not your back.
Even bending over to pick up a pencil can strain your back. Take a tip from golf pros, and swing one leg free, extended in the line of your spine.
Shovelling’s a real pain. Try squatting as low as possible and lift with your legs. Or kneel on one knee, and use your horizontal thigh as a fulcrum to lever the shovel-load by pushing down on the handle. (Kneepads are handy.)
If you’re working low down, see if you can do the job lying on your back. Kneeling while working on under-sink plumbing can force you to twist your spine in all kinds of bad positions.
Exercise regularly, and rest and sleep in proper positions, supporting your back’s natural curve. Hospitals and chiropractors can offer good techniques.