Let’s talk safety! At Ideal, our motto is safety brings us home. Safety, however, stretches beyond the workplace to everyday life events as well. May is building safety month and we want to encourage everyone to start building safety habits in your own homes. With spring season upon us and summer fast approaching, practice the following safety tips when participating in spring cleaning and completing home projects.
Window cleaning safety
- Plan your job and inspect the tools you plan on using.
- Follow the manufacturers’ instructions on the proper use of any chemical you may use for window cleaning.
- Always use the proper PPE (e.g., gloves, goggles) as recommended on the label.
- Avoid overexposure to high temperatures and the sun. Avoid working in windy conditions which may affect your safety.
- Always keep your cleaning bucket and tools picked up and out of the way to prevent trip hazards.
- Keep yourself and your equipment no less than 10 feet away from any electrical lines, supplies or devices.
- Keep ladders and extension poles away from electrical power lines in the area.
- When working with a ladder always follow the ladder manufacturer’s instructions.
- Make sure the bottom and top of the ladder are level and stable before climbing.
- Always face the ladder while climbing and keep three points of contact and avoid overreaching to the sides when working from a ladder.
- Have an Emergency Plan. No one should be working alone if working from a ladder.
Painting safety
- Plan your job and inspect the tools you plan on using.
- If you will be sanding or removing old paint, always check to make sure it does not contain lead. If it, does you will have to take special safety precaution for respiratory protection before proceeding.
- No matter what product you are using, you should always make sure to have adequate ventilation in the area where you are working.
- Never use any paint designed for strictly exterior use for the interior of your home. Try to use latex paint and low VOC products whenever painting indoors.
- Whenever you paint or use paint preparation products, make it a point to carefully read the label directions before starting on the project. There might be safety precautions mentioned that you might not be aware of, such as ventilation requirements, or warnings about not allowing contact between the product and your skin.
- After you are finished with your painting project, you will need to either carefully store the leftover paint or dispose of it properly.