While
working on motorcycles we forget the things
that go boom. When working with these things
we need to keep our heads about us so that
we can stay safe to ride another day.
I
would say wear safety glasses and the appropriate
safety gear at all times when working in your
shop. It only takes one seemingly minor mistake
and blamo, you're blind for life.
In
our shop, safety glasses are required at all
time when on the shop floor. When dealing
with any liquid aside from water, safety aprons
are required. Ours have a neat velcro strap
that can be removed in a flash if needed.
Methyl
Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
MSDS
Fact Sheet
This
stuff can be very nasty. Explosive at just
about any temperature. I will not bore you
will the exact chemistry of this product but
if you want to see the exacts from the US
EPA here is the link.
Never
use this stuff in enclosed areas. Also when
you use it make sure there are no automatic
sources of spark that will occur when the
stuff is in the air (I.E. shop furnace, the
buddy helping you while drill out something
for you, or grinding on something for you)
These sparks alone are enough to start a flash
fire that will find it way to you open container
of this stuff or other flammable materials.
Because the vapors of this product are heavy
they will cover the floor. Basically if this
stuff is loose in your shop and you toss a
cigarette to the floor you will have a floor
that is completely in the craziest blue flame
you have ever seen in about 1/2 a second.
Gasoline
MSDS
Fact Sheet
This
is probably the one we all forget to pay attention
to the most. This is probably because it is
so common in the things we do.
Never
use this to clean parts of any kind. Like
the above MEK, the vapors are heavy and will
fill the floor area of your shop with highly
explosive vapors. It will take only one spark
to set the whole light show off. When storing
gas cans on your shop remember to use the
cap the container manufacturer provided. Also
know that the liquid itself it not flammable,
but the vapors are explosive!
Other
products we forget:
Be
safe safe never let your guard down with any
of this stuff. Keep a fire extinguisher handy
at all times when working with any flammables
in your shop. If a fire starts, you may not
be able to control it or get out if that fire
extinguisher is more than 4 feet from you
when the flame starts off.
