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Most Common Garage-Related Injuries

April 04, 2022

Accidents happen even to the most careful persons. But, let us not dismiss the fact that accidents happen due to negligence and lack of proper design in the garage. So, the emphasis is on keeping an organized and neat garage to prevent any mishaps from happening inside your space. Now, let us take a look at the most common injuries that occur in the garage. And through these, maybe you could take note of them and have your area designed well and take measures to avoid misfortunes from happening in the future.
Eye injuries
Eye-related accidents occur due to various reasons. According to Prevent Blindness, the top contributors to eye injuries are welding tools, power tools, workshop grinders, buffers or polishers, bleach, and manual tools. In fact, most hospital emergencies in the US note that eye injuries from products are used in and around the home. Not that we could avoid ourselves from using these products and tools, but what we can control is protecting ourselves. Starting off by wearing eye protection or goggles when working in the garage. Flying debris from lawnmowers, splashes from paints, solvents, or household cleaners are common sources of eye injuries. When you pick a protective eyewear, make sure that the “Z-87” logo is stamped on the frames. Also, safety glasses with side protection or dust goggles to protect against flying particles are recommended. If you also work with chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, it is better to wear chemical goggles to protect your eyes from the exposure. If you are wearing prescription glasses, it is also better to wear safety goggles over your prescription glasses. Do not be complacent as the regular glasses may not give you enough protection, and may even cause further injuries. For welding and brazing activities, never forget to wear safety goggles and a helmet. Also, if you are lawn maintenance, make sure to inspect and remove debris before mowing as flying debris may accidentally hit you or any bystanders. And lastly, wash your hands thoroughly after doing work before touching your eyes or face.
Garage door-related injuries
An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 injuries happen due to accidents involving garage doors, and at least five deaths or instances of brain damage yearly, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Garage doors, by nature, are extremely heavy, weighing about a hundred pounds. Not only that, but they also contain complex electrical machinery and mechanical components that when they malfunction, they could pose potential dangers such as garage door crush, fingers getting pinched, and getting locked in the garage due to faulty springs. Since the garage doors are heavyweights, it comes as no surprise that accidents may happen due to this fact alone, and the most common victims are small children who don’t always have the foresight of passing under a garage door that is quickly closing. To avoid this from happening, outfitting garage doors with automatic sensors that detect when a person or object is within the range or path of the closing garage door is a viable solution. But, always make sure to check up on the doors to prevent sensor malfunctions from happening in the future. In another data, a record of more than 7,500 people yearly gets pinched in the garage door. Again, kids are the most common victims. The most effective way to prevent this is to educate the children about the dangers of a garage door in motion. Remind them to give the garage door space to close or open, and steer clear from the garage as it moves. Getting locked in the garage is a traumatic experience if it does happen to you. As springs are responsible for the movement of the door, it is better to check if the springs are in good condition. If you see any signs of rust, crack, or loose ends, you better have them replaced immediately. And trust garage door specialists to do it for you, especially if it is not the area of your expertise.
Ladder-related accidents
Using overhead garage storage racks eases the problem of overstoring on the valuable floor space of the garage. When things are carefully tucked away in the ceiling compartments, the ground will open up for your vehicles and the activities that you will be doing inside the garage. However, the only downside is carrying the boxes onto the ceiling storage and eventually putting them down when you need something. This poses a danger to you as you might accidentally fall over to the ground due to the weight of the items lifted. In fact, 500,000 people are treated every year for ladder-related injuries and 50% of which are all ladder-related accidents due to individuals carrying items as they climbed, according to AAOS. Fortunately, Fleximounts offers the Lift 4′ X 4′ Overhead Garage Storage Rack GL44B. This storage lift removes the need for a ladder or any heavy lifting, protecting you from potential accidents. It can be raised and lowered by a crank or power drill for a smooth and effortless operation. And it eases access to your items that are high above the garage floor without using a ladder. It can lift a maximum of 108 inches vertically and can carry a maximum weight of 300 lbs. The storage lift has a safe and secure mechanism–a specially designed safety lock prevents any movement when not in use. Use the winding pole to pull out the safety lock on the gearbox, then push back in to lock after use. Moreover, the rack is made of heavy-duty steel cables, which secure the rack in place. The GL44B also boasts flexibility when it comes to compatibility with angled ceilings because of its adjustable length steel cable. Additionally, it is universally compatible with different ceiling joists of both wood joists and concrete ceilings–12”, 16”, and 24” ceiling joist spacing. However, it is not fit for metal joists. Aside from its storage capacities, the Lift 4′ X 4′ Overhead Garage Storage Rack GL44B is designed for multiple uses such as lifting hardtops, car top carriers, kayaks with straps, and many more.