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Shed owners have been warned to follow the important safety advice on how to manage hazards and dangers in sheds over the winter months. Our garden experts have highlighted the seven dangers that UK gardeners need to be aware of when packing their sheds full during the winter.
They’ve warned those with petrol powered lawn mowers against the potentially deadly danger of storing petrol inside a jerry can in their shed. They also offered advice to minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in their garden outbuildings.
Our experts believe that it is unsafe to leave the shed window open overnight or to compile all the household cleaning products together in one corner.
Here Are the 7 Ways to Minimise Danger in Your Garden Shed
Like any room in a household, sheds need to be properly maintained. Also, particular attention needs to be paid to avoid them falling into disrepair.
Sheds are places which can often contain chemicals and highly flammable material. So, people need to be aware of the correct safety procedure to ensure they are sufficiently preserved.
By following a few simple steps, shed owners can guarantee that they have effectively prevented the threat of any potential dangers. Here are the seven ways to minimise danger in your garden shed.
1. Petrol Storage
Whilst the shed may seem to be a convenient place to store petrol. Attention needs to be paid to ensure that the containers are placed away from all sources of ignitions such as fires, lights and sockets.
There only needs to be a small amount of petrol vapour present to spark a fire, so it is essential to be extremely careful when storing this material.
2. Making Your Shed ‘Wasp-Proof’
Make sure to continuously check your shed for small holes and gaps which wasps could fly into. The introduction of a low wattage light could prevent wasps from entering an area as they prefer damp and dark environments.
Treating timber with a wasp repellent mix of eucalyptus oil, menthol and citronella oil will prevent the pesky insects from nesting.
3. Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
During the winter months, it may be tempting to move the generator into the man cave or bring in the grill for a mid-afternoon bacon butty. This may be bad news for many as our experts say the use of any gasoline-powered engines within sheds should be avoided entirely.
To ensure safety against the poisonous gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector.
4. Household Hazardous Waste Management
Keeping track of hazardous chemicals is important, especially when storing these items in a shed. Purchasing only the amount of chemicals needed will help minimize the number of hazards.
As they could leak and cause significant damage to the thin surrounding wood. When it’s time to discard these products, make sure to follow local ordinances.
5. Securing Your Shed
To prevent the possibility of a break-in occurring, anchor your shed firmly to the ground. This will also stop your shed from being blown into next garden doors on a blustery day.
Our experts’ advice is to purchase a strong padlock which is sturdy enough to secure your shed. A lock that should deter criminals from trying to prise the door open.
6. The Danger of Direct Sunlight
Combustion can be caused in garden sheds from direct sunlight. Over time, the sun can corrode storage containers.
In which could cause significant damage to your shed if they have flammable material within them. Fix blinds and shades to windows, and other portables help to negate the sun’s effects.
Installing retractable skylights would also be an effective solution.
7. Using Shed Cleaners
Mould and algae can quickly spread in dark corners and can be characterised by their black or green appearance. Our garden experts commented that if they’re left untreated, it can seriously damage the timbers.
It can also leave certain areas vulnerable to weakness. Using a dedicated mould and algae cleaner can remove and crucially exterminate the breeding spores that have amassed in the timber.
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