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Press, 19 October 1978, Page 8

I FILES, because of their I shape, offer a great tempI tation to use them as long I slim drift. Never, never hit . the end of a file They are I very hard steel and could ] shatter. Steel splinters | have ruined the eyesight of | plenty of engineers. HANDLES are something j that a tile should never be I without. Because of the ac- ] tion of filing, particularly > in an iwKward situation, it j is all to easy to slip and I push the tang of the file I through your hand. COLD CHISELS are a j source of danger too. They j are safer when they are I new but after they have I been “clouted” for a few ! years, the end of the shaft • acquires that irregular ' mushroom appearance. A ] slightly off-centre blow ! from the hammer and] i splinters can fly. Eitheri | grind the end back to ! shape or get another! I chisel. SPRAYING does ' not] I offer the same apparent) j dangers but menace lurks, ; this time in the fine mist ! of paint. Breathing this is! j definitely not good for you,! ' particularly if you do a loti I of work with paint. If your I are going to use a spray-j I gun, particularly in a: I confined place, wear al gauze mask. BRAKE SHOE DUST is ; also nasty stuff to breath i in. It is the asbestos conI tent which does the damI age. It is a particularly ■ sharp dust and damages

the lungs. The thing to do is clean up brake backplants and drums with a cleaning fluid. This lays the dust. Do not ever do the job with an airline.

EXHAUST FUMES are even nastier than paint and brake dust. If you run. the engine ‘or any length of time in a closed garage, they could cause collapse, followed by death Remember, always have an open window at least, preferably open doors, if the engine is running. EARTHING on electrical appliances like electric drills and lead lights, is vital tn the garage environment. This extends to anything that is mains powered. The insulation covering tne wiring should be heavy-duty type, suitable

for outside use and the plugs and sockets used should be the rubber type, also suitable for outdoors use.

WATCH STRAPS would not at first sight seem to have much to do with safety; but if they are of metal and you are' working near the car battery, it could.

Batteries are always bestdisconnected before doing! any work on the car, par-! ticularly on the wiring.! One of the main reasons is I to avoid “frying” the wiring and starting a fire by] ae'-iffent. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: are always a good idea in] the garage. A large-size] powder extinguisher or] BCF type is best for all] emergencies.