A beginner's safety guide to repairing

Do(n't) try this at home - general safety tips

• Think about the risks that might arise during your repair and how you can best avoid them. 
  Can something jump off or move that could hurt you? Could something get hot and burn you? Can hot water, steam, microwave radiation or anything else dangerous escape from the appliance? Can 230V or any other dangerous voltage be touched? 
   
• During the entire repair process, keep an eye out for anything that seems out of order, such as discoloured wires, damaged and broken parts, broken housing, suspicious smells. 
   
• Do not carry out potentially dangerous repairs alone. Make sure there is someone around to help or call the emergency services.
   
• If you do not feel safe, stop working and call for help.
   
• Disconnect all power sources before opening your device. Never work on anything that is plugged into a wall socket. The device should be physically unplugged, not just turned off. If possible, remove the battery before you start disassembling anything.
   

Repairing is something you learn gradually. Watching instructional videos or manuals and occasionally attending a Repair Café will increase your knowledge of how products and appliances are put together.

Is DIY still completely new to you? Then start with very simple objects and repairs. Don't try to repair electrical appliances yet, for example. Or take electrical appliances to a Repair Café and do the repair under the guidance of a more experienced repairer.

Ensure a safe and tidy workplace

• Make sure you have good lighting so that you can see what you are doing.
• A clean surface ensures that you can easily see and retrieve loose parts. Always tidy up your tools, sweep up sawdust and other rubbish in good time, etc.
• You will need electricity for many repairs. Make sure you have enough sockets / extension leads, but make sure that you and others don't trip over the wiring. Always use grounded sockets.
• Skin contact: take care that your skin does not come into contact with hazardous substances or with aggressive adhesives. Use gloves and/or safety goggles if necessary.
• An accident, big or small, happens quickly. Make sure you always have first aid equipment nearby. It is also best to have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket.

Tools

• Make sure your tools are high quality and operating correctly. Sharp things need to be sharp, straight things need to be straight. A blunt saw can unexpectedly slip off the cutting surface, with all its consequences.
• Be careful with tools that get hot, such as soldering irons. Never leave a hot soldering iron unattended or near flammable items.

The repair itself

• Think carefully. Before you put a screwdriver into something, think carefully whether you can solve the defect in another way. Is it really necessary to take apart the broken hoover, or is the cord simply worn out? Or maybe the hoover hose is clogged?
• If in doubt, don't do it. If you have any doubts about the safety of an appliance, it is best not to start. If you think your appliance is no longer safe after repair, it is best to say goodbye to it.
• Ask for help. If you can't work something out, don't be stubborn, ask for help. Are you not an experienced repairer yet? Then it might be safer to take your appliance to a Repair Café in your neighbourhood. There you will find experienced repairers who are only too happy to help.
• Don't attempt to repair dangerous appliances. Some appliances, such as microwave ovens and old-fashioned televisions, are best avoided. These appliances can have high voltages, even if they are not plugged in.
• Take photos before and after you dismantle a part and make notes if necessary. This will ensure that you can put everything back together again in the right place later.
• Test safely. Keep some distance when you test the item for the first time after repair.

The moment you put power back on the device:

• Do you need to re-energise the device to test something? Be very careful and turn off the power as soon as possible, especially if you see sparks, if something gets hot or smells burnt.
• If possible, use a current limiter. Slowly open the current. If the voltage does not build up, if you see sparks or something gets hot, disconnect the appliance and check what is wrong.
• If possible, use an isolation transformer. This will reduce the risk of electric shock.