Safety tips for renovation projects
Renovation work can be quite dangerous; activities such as using hazardous materials and working at heights can put people at risk of injury. If you're planning a renovation project, here are a few things you can do to keep your construction crew and household members safe throughout this process.
Insist on the use of protective clothing
Wearing the right type of clothing can go a long way towards reducing the chance of an accident or injury occurring during your renovation project. Dust masks, for instance, can help to prevent labourers from inhaling the particles that become airborne during sawing, drilling, sanding and plastering. This, in turn, should help to prevent them from suffering any respiratory issues throughout the course of the project.
Thick work gloves are another essential item; these can reduce the chance of a labourer sustaining a severe cut when using power tools or handling sharp materials like glass or tile. These heavy-duty gloves can also protect their hands from exposure to potentially irritating or toxic chemicals often used in renovation projects (such as paint thinner, for example).
Safety goggles are also useful; these will shield the wearer's eyes from shards of plaster or wood that may be flung into the air when a piece of timber is being cut or a wall is being torn down. They can also stop dust from entering and irritating the eyes. A hard hat is another must; this item could save a person from suffering a severe head injury if heavyweight construction materials fall on top of them.
Don't attempt DIY if you're inexperienced
Even if you've hired a team of labourers for your renovation project, you may find yourself tempted to do some of the work yourself, in order to speed up the process and save yourself a little bit of cash. However, it's important to know your limits; do not undertake jobs that require a skill level you do not have. If you do, you could end up sustaining an injury and endangering those around you.
For example, let's say your renovation project involves re-tiling your bathroom walls. This might seem like a fairly innocuous job which almost anyone could do. However, this task will involve you performing some quite intricate work whilst balancing on a ladder (in order to reach the wall tiles nearest the ceiling). This can be very tricky; it requires a significant amount of skill, concentration and co-ordination. One wrong step and you may find yourself toppling over onto the floor.
If this happens, not only could you be injured by the fall itself, but you could also be cut by any shards of broken tile that have shattered during this incident. Furthermore, you could end up falling onto a nearby labourer and injuring them too.
As such, if you don't have a lot of DIY experience, but you wish to help out your renovation team, it's best to stick to simpler tasks, such as sanding, painting and cleaning.
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