You may think that sewing bags is much safer than many daily activities (such as driving or operating industrial machinery), and you may not pay much attention to safety when operating bag-sewing equipment at home. This can expose you to needless risks. This article discusses some precautions that you should take in order to keep safety risks at bay as you use your bag-sewing equipment. 

Unplug the Machine

Always switch off the bag-sewing machine if you are not going to use it for several minutes. You should also unplug it from the power source. This will prevent the machine from generating large amounts of heat while you are away. Heat makes components wear out quickly, so you should prevent this needless wear. Lightning can also strike while you are away and cause serious damage to your bag-sewing machine. Unplugging it saves it from sustaining such damage.

Go Easy on the Machine

Different bag-sewing machines are rated for different working conditions. For instance, some machines are heavy-duty machines that can be used all day without any safety risk. Some are light-duty and can overheat if used nonstop for several hours. Avoid using your machine in ways that are not recommended by the manufacturer. For example, pause for a few hours in case you have a light-duty bag sewing machine. This will prevent the power cord from overheating and catching fire. Do not force the machine to sew through a material that is tougher than the machine was built to handle. Buy an industrial strength machine if your current one is struggling to cope with the toughness of the bag materials that you are using.

Always Wear Shoes

Never wear footwear that leaves part of your feet exposed when you are using bag-sewing equipment. The exposed parts of your feet may be injured in case a component of the machine (such as a sewing needle) is detached while you work.

Inspect the Machine

Never start using bag-sewing equipment before inspecting it. This is because defects can expose you to safety risks if they are not detected early. For instance, your pet may have chewed the power cord. Such an event can expose you to the risk of an electric shock if you do not repair that damage before using the machine.

Use the tips above alongside any other safety tips recommended by the manufacturer of your bag-sewing equipment. That information will protect you from the common risks faced by less vigilant users of sewing equipment.