Safety precautions and the use of vacuum cleaners

Almost every parent(s) is aware of most household precautions and to protect young kids from dangers and serious injuries that may result from hot pans, hot kettles, electric shocks, sharp objects and many other house use equipment, and tools that can pose a serious threat to every member of the family. However, many household appliances and the dangerous threat they pose to us do not only affect young kids. When it comes to home use appliances such as a vacuum cleaner, adults and grownups should follow the manufacturer’s operation and instruction guide. And for that reason, we are going to briefly discuss the safety precautions and the use of vacuum cleaners.

If you have noticed something about vacuum cleaners, there is always a warning sticker related to dangers of electric shocks and hazards that may result if the machine is abused or not correctly used clay on the body of most vacuums. When you purchase any appliance, we strongly advise you to read the instruction guide or manual. Do not take it for un-granted/assume or do not think that you know everything about the appliance because you have always seen how your neighbor or friend or colleague has been using it.

“DO NOT USE this vacuum cleaner unless you have been trained in its safe use and operations.” Corded and cordless vacuum cleaner manufacturers boldly include these warnings for everyone and mostly for people who do not pay proper attention to safety measures when using vacuum cleaners. However, read on to learn how to take safety precautions and the use of vacuum cleaners.

On unboxing any vacuum, be it corded or cordless vacuum, you have to pay attention to the potential hazards it can cause such as:

Potential risks

You should be aware of the implications towards the exposure to hazards that are associated with slips, electricity, trips and falls, ergonomics, inhalation of dust, and noise.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

It is crucial to protect yourself if you are using an industrial/commercial corded or cord-free vacuum cleaners. This will help to protect you in the situation where something might seem to go wrong as a result of human error or malfunction. This mainly applies to people who use commercial vacuums. Domestic corded or cordless vacuum users might also have to get some of this items, and they include:

• Hand gloves: this is need during the operation and use of both commercial vacuums and domestic vacuums.
• Recommended or appropriate foot wears: the footwear is a mandate for commercial use of vacuum cleaners, and domestic users can also put on footwear if they are vacuuming their and not inside the main house. This means its option is you are vacuuming inside your home.
• Protective clothing: clothes that cover your entire body should in case you run the vacuum on dangerous liquids and other factory deadly adhesives. This is a mandate for commercial or industrial vacuuming
• Face mask: covering your nose from dust particles is essential to everyone as dust allergens float in the air during this time and could be very necessary if there is not enough ventilation. This is very important to people with asthma and dust allergies.
• Eye protection: significant for both commercial and domestic vacuuming to avoid dust and other particles from entering into the eyes.
• Hearing protection: many vacuum cleaners are very noisy especially those heavy industrial ones. In this case, and ear protection becomes a mandatory thing. Also, some domestic corded vacuums are very noisy. If you use such loud vacuum at home and you don’t have an ear protector or does not use one, you better start considering it. It is essential.
• Welding mask: this one is specially designed for factory and commercial vacuum cleaners. Although my husband uses the welding mask whenever he vacuums the car because we have the plastic transparent welding mask.

Safe working precautions with vacuum cleaners

• For corded vacuums, make sure you inspect electrical cords are in order and do not have any cuts. For cordless vacuums check to be sure that everything is okay with the machine
• When turning on, take precautions that may lead to electric shocks
• Be sure that you have thoroughly read the manufacturer owner’s and instruction guide and you are fully aware of how the machine works
• Endeavor that the corded or cordless vacuum cleaner is used according to the recommendations of the manufacturer
• It is better to vacuum clean when there are lesser people within the vicinity
• Avoid working on wet surfaces and do not attempt to vacuum clean water unless it is a wet/dry vacuum that has the potentials as recommended by the manufacturer
• Do not vacuum clean combustible liquids and flammable materials
• If you are using a corded vacuum cleaner and you want to move to another area, switch off and unplug before moving.
• If finished using the machine, for corded vacuums the cord should be coiled and tied for storage.
• For both corded and cordless vacuums, empty the refuse box before storing
• Make sure you wear dust masks when emptying dust containers
• Make sure the vacuum is stored in a safe place after use.
• Make sure vacuum cleaners are kept away from the reach of children