Tag Archives: renovation

General Safety Issues

A SHORT GUIDE TO KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE WHEN HANDYMEN TEAMS ARE AROUND (GUEST POST)

Before calling over the Handymen to your premises, have a one-on-one chat with all children who are old enough to understand verbal instructions. Lay down ground rules and make it clear that the rules are not to be broken at any cost. The first step is to make them aware of the danger that they might put themselves into if they try to do their own thing. Following next is a short guide on keeping children safe when Handymen Team is around.

1. Discuss Health Hazards

Before handing over your premises to the experts, have a detailed chat with them about the safety measures that need to be taken.  Ensure that the quality of air remains safe and see that the premises are cleaned on a daily basis, after the end of work for that day.

2. Identify common spaces

Before the power tools start booming, ensure that the common areas are identified for the children.   The children should be barred from roaming into the areas where the technicians are working. A simple solution is to relocate the microwave and the refrigerator, to ensure children do not walk into the kitchen unknowingly.

3. Power tools out of reach

Irrespective of the fact that you have one or more kids, the attraction to a power tool will be irresistible.  They might seem like playthings to them; chalk out a plan beforehand to keep all such tools away from children.  Make arrangements with the team to remove tools from the premises at the end of day or keep them secured for the night.

4. Keep the children at bay

It is not easy but it is very essential that children are not running around while the interiors are being done up. They might cause an accident and will also distract the workman from his job.  Repairs and renovations, if possible, should be planned when the kids are away at school or in a day care. In all cases, keep the workers informed that there are children at home and some precautions therefore need to be taken.  

5. Disposal of waste

During renovations, a large amount of waste is produced. It may include nails, pieces of metal, paint, wood shavings and chemicals to name a few. To ensure the child is away from this waste, discuss with the service provider beforehand about proper waste containment methods.  A waste disposal unit can be installed temporarily to prevent children from accessing the waste.

6. Reward a must

Once handyman service professionals leave and the renovation is complete, be sure to reward the children for following the rules and staying out of danger. Spend time with them and ask their opinion about the new changes in their home.

Article Summary: Keeping children away from danger in a house under renovation or with a Handyman team on the job is a tricky matter. Kids are curious by nature and all the working noises are sure to attract them.

Author Bio:

Ben Verdi is the owner of Handyman at your service, a US based company providing Handyman Services to business owners at an affordable price. Handyman at your service specializing in TV installation NYC, Electrical work, Plumbing NYC, IKEA Assembly NYC and many more.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

NUMBER 8 – HIGHEST 2010 PENALTIES ASSESSED BY OSHA

Number 8 highest penalties assessed by OSHA for 2010 is: Lead, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1025).  Lead is an ingredient found in thousands of products widely used throughout industry, including paints, solder, electrical fittings, tank linings, plumbing fixtures and metal alloys.  Many homes have been painted with lead-containing paints.  Significant lead exposures can also occur when paint is removed from surfaces previously covered with lead-based paint.  OSHA’s regulations governing construction worker exposure to lead include the development and implementation of a worker protection program in accordance with Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations.  Some projects may have only limited exposure, while others involve more exposures, thus, companies must use engineering controls and work practices to reduce worker exposure. 

  •          Workers must be required to practice good personal hygiene practices, such as washing hands before eating and taking a shower before leaving the worksite. 
  •          They must be provided with protective clothing and when necessary, with respiratory protection.
  •          The permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour period.
  •          Employees exposed to high levels of lead must be required to enroll in a medical surveillance program. 

Hundreds of workers will be involved in cleaning up after the floods that are flowing through many states at this time.  Both workers and volunteers will be renovating and repairing, or tearing down and disposing of, damaged or destroyed structures and materials.  These types of operations many times generate dangerous airborne concentrations of lead, a metal that can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys, blood forming organs, and reproductive system if inhaled or ingested in dangerous quantities.  All persons involved should take the proper precautions and wear protective clothing, and use respiratory products.  Other operations that may generate lead dust and fumes are:

  • Flame-torch cutting;
  • Welding;
  • Demolition of structures;
  • Abrasive blasting of steel structures;
  • Use of heat guns, sanders, scrapers, or grinders to remove lead paint. 

Although we have been discussing the penalties associated with work-related violations, I want to share this information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, regarding other ways we are exposed to lead.  One out of every eleven children in the United States has dangerous levels of lead in their bloodstream. Even children who appear healthy can have dangerous levels of lead.  People can get lead in their body if they: put their hands or other objects covered with lead dust in their mouths, eat paint chips or soil that contain lead, or breathe in lead dust (especially during renovations that disturb painted surfaces).  Lead is even more dangerous to children than adults because children’s growing bodies absorb more lead and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.  If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from: damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems and headaches.  This is just one of the reasons we need to be cautious about toys or play-jewelry that may contain lead.

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from difficulties during pregnancy and other reproductive problems (in both men and women). Other effects are high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain. Lead can affect the body in many ways. 

On the job – as stated earlier, if you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your clothes separately from the rest of your family’s.

  • Miscellaneous Sources – old painted toys and furniture.
  • Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain.
  • Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.
  • Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.

So, let’s “get the lead out,” and get serious about the consequences of lead exposure.  Also, wish for this violation to  be excluded from next year’s list of highest penalties assessed by OSHA.

Sources: OSHA, CPSC