Using personal protective equipment (gloves, safety glasses, respirators, steel toe work boots, long pants, not shorts) all are important to protect you personally from getting injured. One unex- pected visit to the emergency room can change your life forever. Working at heights, even off a ladder, may require fall protection training and a harness to work safely. Working with power tools can easily cause serious injury if you are not familiar and nobody wants to lose a finger, an eye or even worse a life.
Talent/Skilled Trades – There are many skilled trades in the residential renovation/construction industry, and they are skilled for a reason, you want your job done right. To become skilled at any trade takes time, training and practice, which is not usually something a DIYer has. Foundations, electrical, plumbing, framing and insulation all require inspection by a building official because they are critical elements in a home and must be completed to meet the National Building Code or they can become a hazard to your home. A home is most likely your biggest investment, so you should protect it by ensuring all work is done right and the best way to do that is by hiring a pro.
Hazardous Materials – Asbestos, mould and lead are common hazards in a renovation project that professionals know about and how to deal with safely. It is possible to contaminate your entire home with asbestos dust, by removing a wall that has asbestos containing plaster or the hardwood floor with asbestos containing underlay. When you breathe in asbestos dust it can cause a disease called asbestosis, which can cause a very painful death a few decades later. Or the dust from sanding lead-based paint, which can cause lead poisoning if enough is ingested. Professionals are aware of the hazards and take precautions to protect themselves along with you and your home from contamination.
Danger/Training – A construction site can be extremely dangerous, unless you have safety training and know what hazards to look for you could be asking for trouble.
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FEBRUARY 2020 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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