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Regularly vacuum dusty areas and even
invest in a dust mask if you’re spending
long periods in highly concentrated
areas.
Plus, if you need to work through the
winter, make sure to wear thermal
underlayers and boots with proper grip.
In windy and wet conditions, try to work
with a partner who can watch over you
and if weather conditions become too
extreme, pack up for the day and wait
for it to pass.
Visitor pass
Home construction shouldn’t be treated
any differently to a normal construction
site – especially when it comes to
visitors’ health.
Don’t let anyone enter the site of
your home without proper protective
gear and ensure to brief them on any
potential risks if they need to walk
through or access the site.
Keep hard hats to hand and additional
kit like hi-vis jackets and steel-toed
boots should be worn by anyone who
wants to take a look around.
Be aware of potential hazards, like
objects falling or left lying around
which could cause an incident. Attach
netting above head height to catch any
objects or loose materials that could fall
and keep a checklist of all tools used
and make sure they’re accounted for
and kept in a safe place before you leave
each day.
Eyes and ears
Vision and hearing damage are among
the most common construction injuries,
but people tend not to notice as the
symptoms gradually increase over time.
Noises over 120 decibels can cause
hearing damage and a standard power
drill is likely to produce up to 130
decibels. Long days of drilling are tough
on your ears so invest in protective
headphones to block out noise. 85
decibels is the threshold to wear
hearing protection.
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Also, be aware basic work like sanding,
cutting and dry sweeping can produce
high concentrations of dust, which
can cause breathing problems if
inhaled. If you’re going to be working
in particularly dusty areas for hours at
a time, get a pair of goggles to protect
your eyes.
Take your time
Research shows 92 percent of incidents
are a result of workers not taking the
time to do tasks properly.
Rushing construction is dangerous, but
when working on your home project,
the temptation can often be to get
things done as quickly as possible.
Skipping steps in health and safety will
cost you in the long run in sub-standard
buildings and missed work through
injury. If you’re short for time, prioritise
important tasks and bring in additional
help for repetitive or time-consuming
tasks, rather than cutting corners.
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