Simple precautions can cut risk of accidents at home

Working outdoors and around the house is one of the small joysof being a homeowner. Unfortunately, household accidents, many ofthem caused by the tools and supplies we keep in our garages, killabout 20,000 Americans and injure another 3 million each year,according to the National Safety Council.

Many of these accidents can be prevented if you take a fewsimple precautions. Here is a list of safety measures that can helpyou avoid common household mishaps.

Lawn and garden equipment Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes and shoes with a good treadwhen working with lawn mowers. Clear the lawn of litter and rocks before mowing. Disconnect the spark plug before working on the lawnmower. Wait until the lawn mower's engine cools before refueling to avoidflash explosions. If you must use a chain saw, use only an up-to-date model. Recentsafety features, such as brakes that stop the chain quickly duringkickback, nose-tip guards and low kickback guidebars, can reduceinjuries dramatically. Wear protective clothing when using a chain saw - safety glasses,ear plugs and a hard hat. Flammable and toxic liquids

Gasoline can be as dangerous as explosives. Gas can explodeeven if the garage door is open. Also, many hot-water heaters arelocated in garages, and the pilot light can ignite gas vapors. Toprevent major mishaps: Store gas in a tightly closed container designed for the task andkeep it in a separate shed or building. Keep a home fire extinguisher handy. Other liquid menaces in the garage are paint, paint thinner, oil,varnish, weed killer and insecticides. Store these products in theiroriginal containers. Be sure they are properly labeled and lockedaway so children can't get at them. Power tools Don't use any tool unless you've read the instructions. Ground all power tools - power saws, heavy-duty staplers, powergrinders, buffers and sanders - unless they are double-insulated. Keep work areas clean. Never remove blade guards. Ladders Make sure ladders are placed on a solid, level surface so the legsdon't slip or sink. Wear dry shoes with good soles. Don't lean to either side or stand on the top rung. Remember that aluminum ladders conduct electricity; wooden laddersare usually safer. Electricity The best way to avoid shocks is by replacing ordinary wall outletsor standard circuit breakers with electrical safety devices calledground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). These devices cut offcurrent within microseconds if they detect current flowing to groundand setting up potential shock. If you have to use extension cords with power tools, be sure thatthe cord's current rating matches, or is greater than, the rating ofthe equipment. Don't operate power tools while wearing damp shoes. Don't evenenter a wet basement or garage if you suspect any electrical wiringhas made contact with water. Garage doors

Models that came on the market after 1982 incorporate safetycircuits that reverse doors if any obstruction, such as a foot, isencountered. But even with these newer models, the safety circuits,exposed to heat and cold, may not always work. One way to check: seta 4-inch-high board in the doorway and activate the switch. If thegarage door doesn't reverse once it touches the board, the safetycircuts are not adjusted properly or are malfunctioning.