It can be tempting to rush in all guns blazing when giving your home a refresh. But when construction is involved, things can become hazardous – fast. When renovating your home, it’s important to assess and plan before diving in, or you may end up giving your doctor a call.
Always ensure you have plans in place, and are aware of the clear steps to get to your end goal, without accident or injury. Renovating your home isn’t worth risking your health, so we’ll be discussing some of the most important tips and tricks when it comes to safely redecorating your property.
Heights and Ladders
One of the most important tools in home renovation are ladders. In the UK, figures show that around 48,000 people attend hospital Accident and Emergency departments after falling from, or injuring themselves or someone else, during ladder use. It’s vital that you use ladders in a safe manner, as falling from such a height can be risky business.
When using a ladder, always ensure that you have another person present to keep the structure steady, to avoid ladder fall or slippage. You should never climb a ladder alone. Place the ladder on a flat, even surface before climbing. As an extra precaution, head to your local hardware store to pick up a ladder strap. Ladder straps serve as an extra means of protection from ladder slippage, by securing the ladder to the structure you’re working on.
Always ensure you have both hands available when climbing a ladder, never let go with both hands. If you need to carry tools to the top, keep them in a tool belt for easy reach and storage.
Wear the Right Gear
Whether you’re planning on knocking down walls, replacing a window, re-wiring a light or clearing your gutters, it’s vital you wear the correct gear for the job. Of course, if the job is out of your depth, always call in a specialist.
When remodelling your home it’s highly likely you’ll be dealing with loose, flying debris, dust, glass, electrical circuits, chemicals and more. Keeping your limbs safe and covered is the first step, to preventing cuts and abrasions. It’s also crucial that you protect your face, eyes, head and hands. Invest in a sufficient hard-hat, goggles, a face mask and some gloves – you may look silly, but you’ll thank us later.
Steel-toe shoes are always a great shout when it comes to construction. When working with dangerous tools and machinery, the last thing you want is a shoe full of vulnerable toes waiting for something to be dropped.
Keep the Site Clean
A building site is dangerous enough, without adding the extra tripping or slipping hazard. Ensure you keep well organised, set up designated areas for tools and machinery, tidy loose wires and clean up as you go.
Dust, spillages and debris can all be a root cause for unnecessary injury, so the cleaner you keep the area the safer you will be.
Turn Off the Electricity
It may sound obvious, but it has to be mentioned. When working on electrical wiring and fitting new lights, always ensure the electricity is switched off by the mains.
Around 6% of the total number of fatal injury accidents reported in the UK over the last seven years resulted from contact with electricity. It’s estimated that around 10% of all fatal injuries were electricity-related. This is a huge number.
It’s important to consider getting an electrical safety certificate and PAT testing, to ensure that your electrical appliances work sufficiently and are safe for use.
Look Out For Mould
When knocking down walls or stripping paint and wallpaper, you may come across mould. If you do come across mould, it’s important that you investigate the root cause of where it came from. Mould is usually a result of damp within the home, so finding mould in an area of your home could mean trouble.
Never leave mould unattended, always call in a specialist to assess the cause. Leaving mould to sit and increase over time can cause structural damage to your property and may cause electrical wiring and sockets to become unsafe.
Mould, particularly black mould, can also become a health hazard when left untreated. Mould releases spores into the air which cannot be seen or usually smelt, but can wreak havoc on your respiratory systems and make you feel quite unwell. This is especially risky for those with asthma, and respiratory and immune system-related health problems.
Call The Specialists
If you’re struggling to do the work, don’t keep going. It’s estimated that around 200,000 people attend hospital each year due to DIY-related injuries – and you don’t want to be one of them.
If the job is out of your depth, always call in a specialist to get it done.
Leave a Reply