By Laura Jean Whitcomb

Everybody does it. You read about a construction accident in the newspaper and say to yourself, “This would never happen to me.”

You may be right, but who wants to try to beat the odds? According to the Department of Labor, accidental injuries are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. On average, there are 11,200 disabling accidental injuries every hour. Many of these are construction-related; one out of 10 construction workers is accidentally injured every year.

Tag and identify main gas and water valves and electrical cutoffs. Be sure that others in your family know where they are located and how to cut the supply in the event of an emergency.

Full-time construction workers are more likely to think about on-the-job safety. Their employers are required by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to institute and maintain a company program of policies, procedures and practices to protect their employees from (and help them recognize) job-related safety and health hazards. The top five hazards for construction workers are falls from elevation; being struck by falling objects or vehicles; getting caught between unguarded machinery, equipment, or caught in cave-ins; and electrical shock.

At home, however, we become all too familiar with our environment. According to Oklahoma State University, more than twice as many fires occurred in homes than any other occupancy put together (this includes restaurants, hotels, schools and manufacturing plants). Individuals working on their homes should be aware of the dangers and take steps to prevent and control specific job hazards.
Many of the safety guidelines for the full-time construction worker hold true for the do-it-yourself homeowner. Here are a few tips to help make safe work habits second nature.

Wear Personal Protective Equipment

* Wear hard hats when overhead hazards exist or when danger of electrical shock is present. Inspect hard hats routinely, clean with strong detergents and store away from extreme temperatures.
* Wear safety glasses or face shields for welding, cutting, nailing or working with harmful chemicals. Eye and face protectors are designed for particular hazards so be sure to select the type to match the hazard.
* Wear shoes or boots with slip-resistant, puncture-resistant soles.
* Prevent injury with high-quality, well-fitting gloves. Wear the right gloves for the job: heavy-duty rubber for concrete work or welding gloves for welding.

Ladder Safety

* At home, use a step stool or utility ladder — never a chair or a table.
* Secure ladders near the top or at the bottom to prevent them from slipping and causing falls. Be sure the ladder is on a stable and level surface so it cannot be knocked over or the bottom be kicked out. (For example, placing the ladder behind a board stabilized by posts or nails.)
* Place ladders at the proper angle — one foot out from the base for every four feet of vertical rise.
* Do not set up ladders near high traffic areas.


Fall Protection

▪ Cover floor openings larger than 2-by-2 inches with material to safely support the working load.
▪ Wear the proper shoes or footwear to lessen slipping hazards.
▪ Inspect for and remove frost and other slipping hazards before climbing onto roof surfaces.
▪ Cover and secure all skylights and openings.
▪ Use a fall protection system on steep roofs or if the ground-to-eave height exceeds 6 feet.
▪ Stop roofing operations when storms, high winds or other adverse weather conditions
create unsafe conditions.

Tools and Equipment

▪ Maintain all hand tools and equipment in a safe condition. Check them regularly for defects.
▪ Always use the right tool for the job.
▪ Follow the manufacturer’s requirements for the safe use of all tools. “Never be hesitant to ask for advice when buying supplies or hardware at the building supply store,” says Lyman Cousens, Executive Director of the Safety & Health Council of New Hampshire. “Chances are the employee has been asked the same question many times before and knows the answer.”
▪ Equip all power saws (circular, skill, table, etc.) with blade guards. Make sure guards are in place before using equipment.
▪ Disconnect electric tools when not in use.
▪ Get help from a neighbor or friend for heavy or difficult jobs.

Practice Good Housekeeping

▪ Avoid using the basement, attic or utility room for a dumping ground.
▪ Keep the yard clear of broken glass, nail-studded boards, boxes, scrap lumber and other materials. Store in a dumpster or trash/debris area to prevent fire and tripping hazards.
▪ Make sure there is good lighting for work areas.

In an Emergency

▪ Keep emergency phone numbers (police, fire, doctor and utility companies) by the phone.
▪ Tag and identify main gas and water valves and electrical cutoffs. Be sure that others in your family know where they are located and how to cut the supply in the event of an emergency.
▪ “When all else fails, listen to your wife,” says Cousens.

Many of these bullets are from the Jobsite Safety Handbook by the National Association of Home Builders and OSHA. Find out more on their Web site at www.osha.gov