Household accidents don’t always happen inside the home, as they can occur in the garage as well. Garage safety is often overlooked, but is nevertheless extremely important if you are to avoid accidents. Here are some garage safety tips you should keep in mind in order to prevent a claim against your homeowners insurance.

Store Hazardous Chemicals Properly

Keeping hazardous chemicals out of the reach of children and animals is just as important in your garage as it is inside your house. Certain chemicals should not be stored together, as they could react negatively with each other. Likewise, gasoline and other flammable liquids should not be stored near fire or flame. Be sure you know the proper way to keep all the chemicals you have in your garage and consider investing in a hazardous material locker to ensure everything is stored safely and securely.

Keep Your Floor Clean

It can be easy to slip and fall on a garage floor, since it might contain grease, oil, leaves or other debris on it. The best way to prevent slips and falls is to keep your floor clean and dry at all times. When working on vehicles, be sure to sop up any oil spills with kitty litter or a similar type of absorbent. Sweep floors on a regular basis and keep things tidy so you won’t trip and fall.

Lock Up Sharp Objects

Children can be naturally curious about sharp tools and may try to handle them without your knowledge. The best way to prevent this is to keep them locked up at all times. Another advantage to doing this is the fact that burglars won’t be able to use your garden tools to break into your home.

Sharp objects that should be kept out of reach include:

• Garden shears
• Saws
• Knives
• Axes
• Shovels and spades
• Rakes
• Nails and nail guns
• Hammers
• Screwdrivers

Remove Clutter

Perhaps the biggest thing you can do to ensure your garage is a safe place is to remove excess clutter from it. This can help prevent accidents that might happen due to falling objects, which could cause serious eye or head injuries or result in broken bones. After getting rid of unwanted objects, organize your garage neatly, keeping these things in mind when doing so:

• Make sure boxes or totes are stacked neatly and clearly labeled with their contents
• Do not store objects in the rafters unless they can be secured to them
• Ensure that attic stairs are in good repair before placing items overhead
• Do not block exits with stored item—keep them clear in case you need to evacuate

Take a look around your garage and see what items need attention. If this space isn’t as safe as it should be, taking a day to clean and organize it could be time well spent in the long run.

Your protection is our goal. Call Stewart Kriese Insurance Agency at 209-847-8025 for more information on home insurance.