Why store tools away when we’re done a project?

So the cartoon may be funny, but making sure to store tools when we’re finished a project is important for reason beyond the cartoon metal rake joke.

Ah, the metal rake gag makes Mark laugh every time. The absent minded cartoon character steps on the upright tines and: SMASH! His face reminds him why he needs to store his tools properly when they aren’t being used. Absentmindedly discarding tools around the yard or house can lead to serious risks, beyond the cartoon-face-smash.

While you could trip, or be frustrated when you can’t find the right tool later, if you have kids or pets, the risks skyrocket.

And, raking up the leaves is a chore that doesn’t need an extra layer of OW! Avoid leaving your rake on the ground when you aren’t using it, even if it’s just a short break. A rake or shovel lying on the ground is 5 lineal feet of something you—or whomever you’re working with—can trip over. That is possible. And likely.

It might be a funny gag for someone made of ink, but no joke in real life. Store rakes and other handle tools vertically on the jobsite.

Neat and uninjured go together quite a bit.