By Dan Monk I t goes without saying that living in your home during a renovation has its challenges; the dangers of a work site exist and should not be taken lightly. Safety is critical when you plan and start a renova- tion. If you decide to live in your home during the renovation or just visit from time to time, you must remember this is a construction site with hazards and dangers that you would not normally expect in your home. The following are a few pointers when on a home renovation job site: Proper footwear is essential – nails, debris, sharp edges, adhesives and uneven surfaces can cause an injury. If you decide to visit the area of renovation after hours in your sock feet or during the day in your flip-flops, you are risking an injury.
I had a client get up in the middle of the night and walk barefoot through a kitchen renovation for a drink of water and guess what? He cut his foot on something sharp. We wear work boots and shoes for a reason, not just fashion! Eye protection is wise – job sites are known to be dusty; drywall dust or sawdust are common. So you may want to have safety glasses when you visit, especially during working hours. Ladders & Staging are for the pros – Remember the site crews are safety trained, if you are not a professional and trained, then you should stay off any ladders or staging set up for the project, as you are putting your life at risk. Nice clothes are not work clothing – They call them work clothes for a reason, because they are durable, and you don’t mind if they get stained or torn. If you visit a job site, please do not wear clothes that you don’t want damaged. I have been on many sites and have often walked away with paint or a tear in something. Pet friendly – A job site is no place for pets. If you love your pets, please protect their paws from injury by keeping them away from the jobsite or in a kennel or closed room during the process. Often pets can find visitors or loud noises stressful and it may be better to board your pet during the project. Children – If they are not old enough to be on my
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MARCH 2019
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