OPEI offers 12 practical tips to help homeowners and business owners prepare before the arrival of storms, hurricanes and floods.
Alexandria, Va. – The preparations available before the arrival of storms, hurricanes and floods, can help you recover more quickly, and maintain your safety during the phase of general cleaning, repairs and normalization of their activities. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association that brings together the manufacturers and distributors of small motors, utility vehicles and motorized electromechanical equipment for outdoor use, reminds owners of homes or commercial premises, that it suits them to prepare before the arrival of any storm.
“With the hurry before a storm, people sometimes forget to check the operation of their motorized electromechanical equipment for outdoor use,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. “They also waste time, because the state often of time is unpredictable. At all times of the year, it is important to keep your equipment in good working order, have the correct fuel on hand and know where to locate your equipment and safety devices. This is doubly true during the unstable seasons of the year. “
OPEI offers the following practical tips to help homeowners and business owners plan ahead their storm defense and subsequent cleanups and general repairs:
Make a list of what is necessary for a general cleanup after a storm. Inspect your property. Calculate the damage that a storm could cause and make a list of what is necessary to perform the cleanups and repairs, with a view to standardization. You may need safety saws, a lawn mower, a generator, or a utility vehicle.
Inspect your motorized electromechanical equipment for outdoor use. Make sure they are in good working order. If necessary, take your equipment to an authorized service center for maintenance or repair.
Locate your personal protection devices. Avoid the confusion of looking for strong shoes, goggles, helmets, reflective clothing, and work gloves, which should be available in an accessible place, along with their equipment.
Study the manuals with the information on the use of your equipment. Read these manuals to make sure you know how to operate them safely.
Have the appropriate fuel at hand. Fuel service and sales stations may be closed, so it is important to have the appropriate fuel for your equipment. Store your fuel in the recommended containers. Use the type of fuel suggested by the manufacturers of your equipment. It is illegal to use any type of fuel with more than 10% ethanol in motorized electromechanical equipment for outdoor use (for more information about the type of fuel for motorized electromechanical equipment for outdoor use, visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com).
Stay calm and use your common sense when using your motorized equipment for outdoor use. A good dose of cold blood will make it easier for you to reach the smartest decisions. It will not be the best time to hurry things. Take the time to think about the best strategy for your general cleaning, repairs and normalization of your activities.
Be cautious about safety. I think about the dangers that could be exposed. For example, the rebound of the safety saws, which could occur when moving the saw or when touching it with any object, or when the wood bites and cuts the saw at the moment of cutting. Always stand with your weight resting firmly on both feet, and adjust your position away from the cutting parts. Grasp the safety saw with both hands. Do not tilt or stretch your body too much, nor cut anything above your shoulders. Prepare to suddenly change positions, in case something falls on you.
Maintain a firm and stable position when using all types of saws and mowers. Stand firm. Take into account your safety zone, that is, keep the curious and passers-by and the high-voltage lines (those that are above you or that can fall on you) well separated, at least 50 feet away from where you find working.
Make sure portable electric generators have plenty of ventilation. Generators should never be operated in closed areas or placed inside a building, even if the windows or doors are open. Place generators outside and away from windows, doors and fans that could allow the entry of carbon monoxide. Keep generators dry, and do not use them when it is raining or when they are wet. Before refueling, turn off the generator and allow it to cool.
Handle utility vehicles (UTVs) carefully. Keep your vehicle stable and handle it slowly. Do not bend your vehicle in the middle of a hill or in hilly terrain.
Keep others in mind. Keep the curious, passers-by, children and animals out and away from your work area. Do not allow anyone to approach the motorized equipment, such as, for example, saws and motorized trimmers of all types.
Pay attention to your health. A general cleaning, with the consequent repairs and return to normalization, after a storm, can be exhausting for the body and spirit. Do not operate electromechanical motorized equipment, if you are tired or exhausted. Drink lots of water and take your rest breaks regularly.
Information about OPEI
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association that brings together more than 100 manufacturers and distributors of electromechanical motorized equipment, engines and utility vehicles. OPEI, as a voice that defends the rights of the sector, is a standard development organization (Standards Development Organization) for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), so it remains active internationally thanks to its participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in the creation of standards and patterns of safety and performance. OPEI is a managing partner of GIE + EXPO, the international annual exhibition of the sector and the creative force behind the environmental awareness program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents its members in various specialized environments, such as, among others, recycling, emissions and regulations, in the various provinces of Canada. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.
