Safe Garage Organization

Written by Hettie Woehler (last updated November 10, 2020)

1

Have you ever really stopped to think about safety concerns while you are organizing your garage? Probably not, since most people will simply want to have the floor space cleared and all items in their "proper place." However, if you are really going to get the most out of your garage, you really should take a few steps ensuring that you are doing some safe garage organization instead of simply stacking everything against the wall.

  • Exterior garage lighting. Install outdoor lights at your gate, in the driveway and on the garage wall next to the top edge of the door. These lights can be programmed to switch on or off at certain times or when a movement detector detects movement. If there are dogs outside the home at night, adjust the light detector just above the dog's height allowing the animal freedom of movement.
  • Interior garage lighting. Install a drop light above your work bench to avoid accidents with electric drills and saws when there isn't enough light on where you work. In addition, ensure that you have adequate lighting throughout the rest of the garage so that you can see everything that you need to.
  • Check your doors. Make sure that the garage door is in perfect working order. Keep in mind that if you can open the door from the outside with a wire clothes hanger, a thief can do it too.
  • Garages aren't playgrounds. Don't allow small children to play in the garage as there are things where they can hurt themselves.
  • Natural lighting is best. Invest in building skylights into your garage. This will ensure that you have enough light during the day while working in the garage without resorting to electricity usage. In addition, if you choose skylights that are able to be opened, you can add some extra ventilation if needed for certain projects.
  • Fire extinguishers are a must. Very few garages have fire extinguishers while there are often highly flammable articles such as thinners, paints, gasoline and other hazardous materials stored there. When you do install a fire extinguisher ensure that it is capable of handling these hazardous materials.
  • Protect your garage from thefts. Use burglar proofing measures to help protect your garage, and the items that are stored inside. To ensure that no one can watch you through the window at night, invest in mirror glass for more safety. Remember to have regular alarm testing drills. It is no use having a burglar alarm that doesn't go off when burglars are trying to come into the garage.
  • Handle and store chemicals properly. Never fill your lawnmower with gasoline inside the garage, as the toxic fumes are bad for your health. Never light a cigarette, or smoke inside your garage. If you store chemicals in your garage, then event he smallest spark can end up causing the garage to become a huge fireball. Keep all chemicals such as paint removers, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, fertilizers, and so on locked in cupboards to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Author Bio

Hettie Woehler

Hettie lives in Mokopane, South Africa. She writes articles for a country-wide monthly newspaper, The Vessel. She self-published a devotional book in 1993 and writes a regular column, Hettie's Chatterbox, for the S.A. Neuromuscular Foundation. ...

MORE FROM HETTIE

Online Filing

Recently there has been a shift towards online filing, also known as cloud filing. Often times this means that you no ...

Discover More

Air Cleaning Equipment

If you happen to have severe allergies, then air cleaning equipment isn't just a nice luxury, but an absolute necessity ...

Discover More

Air Cleaners

It seems that air pollution is here to stay. Diseases brought on humans and animals may include allergies, asthma, lung ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 18-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Organizing Tips

Keeping Your Glove Box Organized

Maintaining an organized glove box can avoid nerves from being frazzled during emergencies. The ability to reach into ...

Discover More

Tool Organizing

If you have no organization system for your tools, you can improve the situation with a little bit of time and work. You ...

Discover More

Garage Storage Systems

One of the most difficult places in the home to keep organized is the garage. This is because the garage is often seen as ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 0?

2014-06-12 23:38:10

Allan Corfield

I think you will find mirror glass doesn't work as you might imagine.

The direction it works depends on which side is brighter.

In daylight, outside is brighter so someone outside sees a mirror - but persons inside can see out.

The reverse happens at night. Inside is brighter and persons inside see a mirror. Persons outside can see in.

Use a blind.