Tag Archives: prevent falls

HOW TO KEEP SENIORS SAFE AT HOME (GUEST POST)

Your mom is the best cook in the world. You could die for her bacon and eggs breakfast and chocolate cake for dessert! Even your friends come home for dinner sometimes because they simply love her cooking, and let’s face it, she loves to feed people too. Even though you think you’re a bit overweight and could do with some exercise, she thinks you look skinny and could do with some more food in your tummy! But all this aside, she’s a bit of a klutz and that scares you a little. She’s had some minor falls here and there—they didn’t hurt her too much but she’s still shook.

After some minor fractures, you realized that your house could do with some fixing. A little bit of adjustments could make your house safer for her. After all, at her age, you don’t want to be messing with physics! Because you never know when those frail bones of hers might fail her. You’d rather be prepared for the worst because klutziness might become her worst enemy! It’s not that difficult or expensive to make a home safer for seniors. Let me show you the ropes. Here are some things you could do:

1.       Make your house accident proof

Since older bones can be brittle, it’s important that the house does not have jutting corners or slippery surfaces which may cause untoward injury. You won’t realize but changing small things in your house may prevent your parents (or elderly people in general, or even kids for that matter) from being prone to small accidents. You need to be careful about small things like making sure that all electrical wires are placed along walls and no one can trip over them. The stairways also need to be in a good condition because a tumble down those steps may cause some serious hurt and you don’t want that, do you? It’s important for you to keep the smallest things in mind while you change things around in the house to make it safer. You should make sure that there is plenty of room to walk and there is no clutter (such as small pieces of furniture or your dog Max’s food bowl) to trip over. Clean up spills as soon as they happen!

2.       Lighting is really important

Everyone knows that as you grow old, your eye sight gets weaker. So, it becomes really important for the house to be well lit for the seniors. Be it the kitchen, the bedroom or the bathroom. The lighting is absolutely necessary. Nowadays you have the option of lighting with something called proximity sensors. This simply means that when you walk into a room, the lights will automatically come on. The elderly people in your family will love this feature and it will come in handy especially during the night. It’s also quite energy efficient so it’s good for your pocket too! Good lighting on stairways is also really important.

 House light

Source: http://www.viahouse.com/2010/08/modern-concrete-house-inspiration-space-saving-house-interior/decorative-lighting-concrete-house-designs/ 

3.       Handrails are the way to go

Hand rails next to the stairs and the tub are an easy option. They should be securely attached to the wall and will come in handy (see what I did there?) when you want to prevent falls. And as I said earlier, it’s important to protect those brittle bones!

 Wall Handrails1

Source: http://www.shawstairs.com/images/Wall%20Handrails1.jpg

4.       It’s also about security

You must have come across so many news stories where the elderly were targets of thefts and violence. Keeping that in mind, security from burglars and your amateur Jack the ripper becomes an important aspect of making the home safe for your folks. Make sure that your entry door is (almost) bulletproof. I recently replaced my door with this one from Champion Window– comes with a lifetime warranty! Porches and balconies should also be protected with fences or gates that cannot be climbed over. It’s important to secure the outdoor area as much as the indoors. 

These are some steps that you can take if you’re looking to make your home safe for seniors. It’s all about the little things that may cause injury and replacing them is easy and quite inexpensive. Take a good look around your house because these things can be extremely subjective. Good luck! Your folks are going to be quite happy with your efforts. 

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HOME DEMO SAFETY TIPS FROM AN INDUSTRIAL DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR (GUEST POST)

Safety is the first priority of any industrial demolition contractor. When a project is safe, employees are happier and the work finishes on time. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets safety regulations for demolition contractors for a reason – the work is risky. With this in mind, homeowners should also keep safety in mind when embarking on a demolition, remodeling or building project.  

Look for environmental hazards. Some construction materials contain toxins such as mold, formaldehyde, lead or asbestos. If you’re not sure what went into the building materials you’re demolishing, hire a professional to figure this out. If there are toxins in the environment, let the pros handle it. 

Analyze the materials. A sledge hammer isn’t the go-to tool for every type of building material. Before starting a project, analyze the materials so you can pinpoint the right demolition tools. 

Make a plan. If there aren’t any hazardous materials in your home, plan to work from the top down. In your plan, include a safety checklist with items like sealing off the area, shutting off the utilities, where to place chutes and so on.   

Prevent fall hazards. If you are ever going to be four feet or more off the ground, implement these fall protection measures: 

  • Install stair rails, handrails and guardrails.
  • Cover holes will floor boards or toe-boards.
  • Keep the floors dry.
  • Use a harness and lines whenever you’re four feet or more off the ground.
  • Learn how to use a ladder safely. (A ladder is one of the most deadly items on a demolition site.) 

Demolition Tools  

Pry bars: Use a pry bar to pull out nails, remove tiles and loosen flooring. If you need something stronger to loosen flooring, give a San Angelo bar a try. 

Hammers: A standard claw hammer is great for removing nails and making small holes in drywall. Use a mini-sledgehammer for tougher tasks, like removing interior framing and wood support beams. Reserve the full-size sledge hammer for materials like bricks or concrete. As you work with nails, take the time to knock them flat so they don’t end up lodged in a foot – or better yet, keep the area clean so you don’t step on piles of debris. 

Excavators: Excavators can increase the efficiency of your project when an experienced operator is in the driver’s seat.

Demolition Safety Equipment & Best Practices 

Spend a little money and save a lot – including your life – with PPE personal protective equipment and other safety materials. You should also consider implementing the demolition best practices below. Recommended safety equipment includes: 

  • Safety glasses
  • Hard hat
  • Work gloves
  • Ear protection
  • Respirators or dust masks
  • Shatterproof goggles
  • Steel-toed boots or boots with shanks in the soles
  • Harness for work on the roof or around open holes
  • Electrical tester (to make sure power lines are dead)
  • Fire hose
  • First aid kit
  • Safety buddy 

Put safety first. Always use safety gear, and inspect it prior to starting work. 

Obtain permits. Before your project, verify whether you need a demolition permit. 

Handle hazardous materials wisely. The EPA has standards for handling environmental hazards. Work with a licensed company to remove them from your site. 

Be a good neighbor. As you work, be mindful of noise levels, dust levels and the debris produced. 

Consider a green demolition. Divert what you can from the landfill by salvaging usable building materials and reusing or donating them. Recycle what you can, and sell scrap metal to recoup some of your costs 

Demolition is all about forethought and logic. Never hesitate to talk to a demolition contractor if you have any questions or safety concerns about your project. 

Elder Demolition, a fully licensed demolition contractor located in Portland, Oregon, has provided safe, top-notch demolition services throughout the western United States since 1997. Elder Demolition