We cannot deny that home renovations and upgrades boomed during the pandemic. For homeowners, there is perhaps nothing more exciting than doing some home upgrades and renovations. Who doesn’t want a home that looks straight out of Architectural Digest and Vogue Living, right? Moreover, some home projects and upgrades also add value to the home, so it’s a smart and strategic investment move for homeowners who see themselves selling the property one day.
But while renovating our home may be an exciting time, it can also come with plenty of health and safety hazards. Here are some essential pointers to keep in mind to protect your family from injury and sickness during your home renovations:
Be on top of everything—from schedule to budget
It may be tempting to leave everything to our team of architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers, but it is incumbent upon us as homeowners to know everything that’s going on under our literal roof. There is such a thing as premises liability, which says that when someone is injured, the property owner can be held liable for their injuries and damages. So if you want to keep everyone and everything protected while renovations are taking place on your property, you want to be up-to-the-minute on the schedule, equipment being used, and the safety measures that are being taken by everyone in the team.
Moreover, knowing the schedule will help you plan when you and your family can stay on the property. And depending on the types of renovation being done, you might want to look for a new place while work is being done in your house.
Hire the right team
Another safety precaution you cannot afford to ignore is hiring the right team of people. This includes doing your due diligence, especially when looking for a contractor and a sub-contractor. Here are some qualities you need to look for in a construction company or contractor:
- Make sure they have a proven track record as well as good reviews from previous clients. Don’t hesitate to look into their website and Facebook account to see their former clients and if they are happy with the work done in the house. Remember that you don’t just have to live with the job they do; you would also have to communicate with them before, during, and sometimes even after the renovation. So make sure the rapport and trust are there, and that you are leaving your property in the care of somebody who knows what they’re doing. Make sure that they have no history of botched jobs or injuries and accidents due to negligence.
- Don’t hesitate to check their permits and licenses as well as their equipment. If there are instances when they’d have to work at night, you want to ensure that they have the proper equipment to do so safely, like portable light towers for the outdoors, especially if they will also be doing some yard work.
Hiring the right team of workers is half the battle, so do not hesitate to check and double-check the construction team you’re going to be working with.
Wear the proper protective equipment when visiting the site
If you and your children are visiting the site while renovations are ongoing, make sure to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). This can include the following:
- Hard hat to protect your head
- Safety goggles
- Earmuffs or earplugs
- Protective clothing
- Gloves
- Face mask
Even if you’re not the one doing the work in the home, you still want to ensure that you are properly protected because you never know when something might go awry during your visit.
Follow health and safety protocols
Since we are still in a pandemic, you want to ensure that everyone is following health and safety guidelines provided by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines can change as the number of infections ebb and flow, so be on the lookout for what the CDC will post or announce on their website regarding these protocols. However, some universal health guidelines don’t change as much:
- Wear a mask
- Stay at least six feet away from others
- Wash or disinfect your hands thoroughly
- Consider testing before and after you leave the site
- Encourage everyone to keep things as clean and orderly as possible
Renovating our home should be a fun and meaningful experience, so don’t let accident, injury, or illness tarnish this moment. With the right precautions and protocols, there’s no reason why you can’t protect your family and everyone from anything untoward during this process. You can do it.
