Home Improvement Safety
Keep It Safe
From the initial demolition to the final cleanup, renovation projects can present a lot of hazards. Every homeowner should be aware of the risks and how to reduce them.
Some hazards are obvious: the nail-studded board tossed into a pathway, the wobbly ladder, the naked blade of a power tool. Others can be subtle but no less dangerous: the unshored excavation, the frayed extension cord, or the invisible fumes from solvents, paints and glues.
There are good reasons to think about safety even if someone else is doing the actual work. After all, would you want the pleasure you find in your renovation to be marred by tragedy? Or lawsuits?
You need to know what your insurance will cover before letting anyone start work on your house, especially if you are supplying some of the materials or lending them tools or other items. Although contractors normally carry their own liability insurance, their policies may not cover all the tradespeople involved on your job or others who stray onto the site. In the case of serious injury, you may be liable. You owe it to yourself to make certain that your contractor's insurance coverage is adequate to shield you against all possible claims.
Once work has started, knowledge and awareness can prevent many accidents.
Warn everyone who comes near the site about hazardous areas, activities and substances, before they encounter them.
Insist that the work site be kept tidy and as free from hazards as possible.
Insist that hazardous substances be kept in sealed, clearly marked, non-food containers. Dispose of hazardous waste promptly, in accordance with local regulations. Don't put it out with the regular garbage.
If you're doing the work yourself, read and follow the instructions on all hazardous products, as well as the Material Safety Data Sheets provided by manufacturers and retailers.
Insist on the use of appropriate, well-maintained tools and equipment.
Insist on the use of appropriate safety equipment and clothing approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
Insist that a fire extinguisher that has been approved by Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) for Type A, B and C fires be on site at all times.
Stay alert and insist that everyone on the job do so as well. Report horseplay or erratic behaviour to the project manager at once.
Insist that all hazardous materials and sites be secured against intrusion at the end of each work day.
If you are living at the site while the work is being done, you must check at the end of each work day to be certain that safety precautions have been observed.