Renovations and home safety: proceed with caution!

Data from the Centre provincial d’expertise en réimplantation (provincial replantation expertise centre), affiliated with the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, is unequivocal: home renovators are now more likely than workers in a company to be injured by a tool. This information illustrates the risks associated with home renovations, which can result in serious injury. Hundreds of people fall each year while repairing the roof of their home or pruning a tree. Cuts from a sharp tool and chemical burns also claim many victims each year, which is why it’s so important to closely follow safety protocols.

Home safety: better safe than sorry!

Protect yourself

Make sure all your vaccines are up to date, including the one for tetanus, which can develop from a simple cut. Protect your eyes well and wear safety glasses when handling chemicals or cutting materials. Don’t skimp on gloves, hard hats, ear plugs and masks when they’re needed. Removing your rings when handling tools could save you from losing a finger if you make a wrong move.

Use the right tools

Maintain your equipment carefully and use only the appropriate tools for your renovations. You wouldn’t want to injure yourself because you didn’t use the right saw! Also make sure there is proper lighting for you to do the job.

Be cautious

Read the labels on the chemicals you intend to use and the instructions for your power tools. Don’t even think about breaking in your new sandals: you need safety shoes to protect your feet. Unplug your tools before cleaning them and ventilate any room where you applied glue, varnish or paint. Avoid consuming alcohol or other similar substances: lack of concentration is the cause of many accidents. Protect children by keeping them away from renovations, and make sure potentially dangerous products and tools are stored in a room they can’t access.

Take precautions in high places

Roofing work is the cause of many accidents, so it’s best to be properly equipped before you start. Wearing a harness is mandatory for any professional working on a roof, so why wouldn’t you do the same?

Opt for scaffolding or a stepladder rather than a ladder and ask somebody to be there at all times to ensure your safety. Keep an eye on the weather and avoid heights when it’s raining or very windy; the risks of falling are greater. If your roof is old or near electrical wires, call an expert. Much like electrical and plumbing work, roof repairs are often best left to the professionals.

Home renovations: Consider accident insurance!

Did you know that accident insurance can be very helpful in case of an injury? Without replacing disability or salary insurance, this coverage can not only provide financial support to families in the event of an accidental death, but also compensation for the costs of vocational rehabilitation following a permanent injury and adapting a vehicle or residence after an accident resulting in permanent wheelchair use, and even certain benefits in the event of a fracture. Accident insurance could make all the difference if you run into some bad luck.