Safety

For our contractor customers, we understand the importance of a safe workplace and safely handling materials. For complete access to MSDS safety documents click here.

For additional information and assistance with the safety documents click here.

Home Safety

Please read below for special tips to keep you and your loved ones safe. Accidents happen frequently. Westlake Ace Hardware has provided the following safety information for you to use as a guideline around your home. Much of this content was recommended by the home safety council.

Grilling Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 1,000 structure fires and 3,400 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 2001. To make sure your next barbecue doesn’t go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:

• Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone”, keeping kids and pets well away until grill
equipment is completely cool.

• Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the
house and any shrubs or bushes.

• Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.

• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.

• Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas
and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.

• Never bring a barbecue grill indoors or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire
and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

Backyard Safety

Lawn mowing and landscaping top the list of household chores when it comes to preparing for backyard parties and barbecues. The simple act of yard work can be riddled with opportunities for injuries if you’re not careful. The Home Safety Council recommends the following tips to make sure your backyard doesn’t become an injury trap:

• Wear protective goggles and ear protection while using outdoor machinery to prevent
sight and hearing-loss injuries.

• Keep all garden tools out of children’s reach and store them with tines, blades or spikes
pointing downward.

• Fuel mowers outside and only when the motor is completely cool. If necessary, store
small quantities of gasoline outside the home in a detached garage or shed, tightly
sealed in an approved safety container and out of the sight and reach of children.

• Start the mower outdoors to avoid raising carbon monoxide levels inside the home or
garage.

• Store pesticides in their original containers and out of the reach of children, and only mix and store pesticides in containers not used for eating or drinking.

• Clear sidewalks and pathways of any toys and clutter to avoid falls.

• Make sure all play areas are equipped with proper shock-absorbing materials, such as 9
inches of wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber.*

*Consumer Product Safety Commission

Fire Safety

Be FireSmart - An interactive approach to fire safety
Your room-by-room fire hazard checklist should include:

1. Living Room

Open the flue or damper before starting a fire in your fireplace, every time.
Keep all flammables at least three feet away from the fireplace.
Place a sturdy fireplace screen in front of the fireplace.
Have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional at least once a year.
Keep candles and lamps at least one foot away from your curtains.
Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets.
Use large, deep ashtrays. Never leave a burning cigarette unattended.

2. Bedroom

Never use candles in your bedroom.
Keep all lamps free of flammable materials.
Don’t run electrical cords under rugs.
Replace and repair loose or frayed electrical cords.
Don’t allow permanent use of extension cords.
Don’t staple or nail electrical cords.
Never smoke in bed.
Never leave heavy objects on the bed when an electric blanket is in use.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm near bedrooms.

3. Bathroom

Don’t overload outlets with cords from too many appliances. Plug them in one at a time.
If an outlet or switch feels unusually warm, stop using it and call an electrician.
Never set hot appliances on flammable materials.
Unplug all appliances when done using them.
Make sure cords from appliances are not getting pinched in drawers.
Keep towels and other flammables at least three feet away from space heaters.

4. Hallway

Install ceiling-mounted smoke alarms that are at least four inches away from the walls on every level of your home.
Ensure smoke alarms are UL listed.
Wall-mounted smoke alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
Don’t install smoke alarms near windows, doors or ducts.
Test your smoke alarms once a month.
Vacuum your smoke alarms every six months.
Change your smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. Make sure batteries are always insmoke alarms.

5. Kitchen

If you have a fire extinguisher, be sure you are properly trained to use it.
Make sure the fire extinguisher is for multi-purpose use.
Keep the fire extinguisher in a place where it is easy to access.
Never leave anything on the stove or under the broiler unattended.
Keep the cooking area clear of items that can burn.
Maintain a three-foot kid-free and pet-free zone around the stove.
Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while you are cooking.

6. Basement

Have your heating system serviced once a year before cold weather begins.
When buying a new unit, have a qualified technician install it or check that it was installed properly.
Choose a heating device with an automatic shutoff feature.
Make sure your clothes dryer is installed and serviced by a professional.
Have a gas-powered dryer inspected by a professional at least once a year to check flexible gas lines for damage and proper connection, and to ensure all piping is free of leaks.
Keep areas around heating sources clear of debris and insulated from the heating source.
Be sure to clean the lint tray in your dryer before each use and check around the drum for any accumulated lint.
Do not store clothing or other combustibles any closer than one foot from the dryer.
Do not let your dryer continue running when you leave your home.

For more information go to www.libertymutual.com

For additional information and resources to help you learn more and stay safe in and around your home, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.