As we all have read stories about people working on their bikes and inadvertently getting hurt in some way or the other, I'm going to try and put up some basic advice for keeping yourself safe.

While working on a bike you will encounter several different hazards, ranging from flammable liquids to open moving parts. Some times even at the same time. So I will try and list the precautions with regard to some categories one by one.

General:

• Your work area should
  • be well lit, so you can see what you're doing and where things are.
  • be spacious, so you don't tip things over or stumble onto parts or tools.
  • be clean, since it will keep your parts clean and you won't slip on something like oil on the floor.
  • be organized, so you can find things easily and don't have things laying around randomly where you might step on them or stumble.
  • be properly ventilated, so any fumes don't hang around, that includes exhaust gas.
  • have a source of running water or a large container of clean water, for rinsing your eyes or other body parts should you accidentally spill anything and get it in your eyes or on your skin/clothing.
  • have a fire extinguisher, if possible, or at least an escape route, so you can take care of a fire or at least escape with no harm.
• You should
  • be wearing closed shoes, if possible, so that tools and other things that fall or spill don't hit your bare foot.
  • be wearing eye protection, your eyes are sensitive: Protect them.
  • take your time, since you might make a mistake if you hurry.

Liquids:

• Handle with care, know what you're handling.
  • Battery acid needs very different handling than water or coolant.
• Acid, like battery acid
  • Acids can give off fumes
  • They can and will eat through your clothing and skin
  • Wear eye protection
• Fuel
  • They evaporate, which can create a flammable mixture.
  • Never smoke near fuel or use cell phones.
  • Try not to expose your skin to fuel too much or too often, it removes fat from your skin and causes it to dry out. Long term exposure can cause irritation, rashes or worse.
  • After exposure, wash you hands thoroughly and apply skin cream.
• Coolants, motor oils and other fluids
  • Can be irritants and thus should be treated with care.
• Any spill should be cleaned up, be it water or fuel so you don't have to wonder what it is that's laying on the ground.
• If you do get some liquid on your clothes, see if you can remove that piece of clothing, this is especially important with acids.
• Rinse any contaminated skin with lots of water, again especially important with acids.

Moving parts:

• Open chains can grab clothes, fingers, skin and many other parts.
  • Lubricating an open chain by running the engine and having any gear engaged is dangerous, several people on the forum can tell you about that.
• Never run the engine while working on any part that's connected to it.
• If you must run the engine, be aware of the moving parts and don't go anywhere near them.
• Be aware of any place where your arm or hand can get stuck between on part and another and avoid them.

These are the things that crossed my mind right now. The things I wrote are meant to make you aware of what you're doing and how to avoid getting hurt, not to instill fear.

Let us promote a culture of safety, not just on the road. But always, regardless of what we're doing.

Anyone: Feel free to comment, add or criticize.