Kooyman, your Caribbean hardware-, building materials- and home improvement store!

Do it yourself (safety)

Home improvement is fun and very satisfying. Working with one's own hands is something to be proud of. Yet, every DIY'er knows that Doing It Yourself can be messy.

Paint, glue, sawdust: many DIY-er finds themself not just working into a sweat, but literally biting the dust.

A dust mask, protective goggles and gloves are no luxury, but a necessity!

Stripping paint
Paint is stripped with powerful solvents. To protect your health, we recommend the following:

• Preferably use a water-based paint remover. Make sure the product doesn't contain methylene chloride.
• Take care of proper ventilation, open windows and doors.
• Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wear goggles and thick rubber gloves.
• Replace gloves shortly after they've been in contact with the paint remover.
• Keep children away from traces of paint.

Burning off paint
Old layers of paint contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium. When burning off paint, these metals and other noxious substances are released. Prevent yourself from breathing in paint fumes and take precautionary measures:

• Try removing paint by using another method.
• If there are no other options, take care of proper ventilation in the space where the paint is being burnt off.
• Wear a close-fitting fume mask.
• Also do this when welding painted metal.
• Keep children away from traces of paint.

Paint and Glue
Most paints and glues contain substances which are harmful to the health. As paint and glue dry, most of these substances evaporate. This is a lengthy process. Every painter should bear the following things in mind:

• Avoid skin contact with wet paint or glue.
• Don't use boat or floor varnish in closed spaces. Open all windows and doors and wear a close-fitting fume mask and protective clothing.
• Always work outdoors when polishing with a spray-gun and wear rubber gloves to avoid exposure.
• Never spray paint in a closed space. Open all windows and doors and wear a close-fitting fume mask.
• Never paint or glue large surfaces in a closed space. Open all windows and doors.
• Ensure good ventilation until the smell of solvents disappears. Take Care: this can take weeks or months with certain types of paint.

Drilling, sawing, sanding and tearing down
Drilling, sawing and sanding all produce dust. Fine dust can irritate the lungs and the bronchial tubes. Therefore: wear a dust mask and protective goggles. If you're renovating the kitchen, wear the mask the moment you start tearing anything down and take the following precautionary measures:

• Try drilling, sawing and sanding outdoors as much as possible.
• Keep the space well-ventilated if you have to work indoors.
• Wear a close-fitting mask.
• Also do this when dry sanding. If possible, consider wet sanding.
• Take care not to drill, saw or sand asbestos containing material.
• Keep children away from renovation dust.
• Use a damp cloth to remove dust and loose grains from the floor. If using a vacuum cleaner: be gentle. This prevents the dust from getting in the air.

Cleaning
Household dust on bookshelves, picture frames and ceilings, contains a lot of invisible mould. When you're cleaning or tearing down parts of the house, this dust is spread throughout the rest of the house. To prevent yourself from breathing in this dust, take care of the following:

• Use a damp cloth to remove dust.
• Keep windows and doors open when tearing down and cleaning.
• Wear a close-fitting dust mask.
• When the work is done, remove the dust from the floor with a damp cloth or vacuum very slowly.

Foam
Joints and holes can easily be filled with foam (e.g. PUR-foam). However, during the setting of PUR-foam, noxious substances are released. This is of short duration. PUR is harmless after a few hours, even when intensively touched. However, when applying the foam, you should pay attention to the following:

• Use thick rubber gloves and cover legs and arms to avoid skin contact with setting PUR.
• Keep doors and windows open.
• Wear a fume mask.

Take extra safety measures when working in closed spaces (e.g. a crawl space). Wear a special safety mask and protective clothing to cover the skin completely.