Health and Safety Best Practices When Working With Contractors

Home improvement projects are exciting, especially when you get to enjoy a new space in your home with your family and friends. In addition to keeping your family safe, it’s important to keep them healthy. With the new guidelines in place over the spread of COVID-19, a little planning and some simple ground rules can help keep everyone safe and healthy with contractors in your home.

Guidelines for Family Safety

Safety should always be considered in order to ensure stress-free home projects. This involves teaching your kids ways to stay safe and making sure contractors follow best practices to minimize risks. How can you protect your family’s health?

• Safeguard children from construction hazards. These can include everything from power tools to falling objects. Simply put, curious kids and construction don’t mix. Keep little ones out of work areas during the day and at night.
• Take steps to avoid contagious illnesses. Anytime there are bugs going around — and especially with the spread of COVID-19 — it’s a good idea to follow recommendations for protecting yourself and your family. Often, these guidelines are simple yet powerful.
• Keep an eye on potential health hazards in older homes. If you have reasons to think your house may have asbestos or lead paint, don’t ignore that. It doesn’t take long for a home inspector to check and at the very least, you will enjoy peace of mind. Certified contractors can approach the project using specialized procedures and equipment to protect you and your family.
• Take care of your own health. If you have allergies, there’s nothing wrong with planning a project in a way that minimizes potential issues. When someone in the home has asthma, many contractors are willing to seal off work areas, perform daily cleanup, and use low-VOC materials to prevent breathing issues.

How To Keep Your Family Germ Free With Contractors in the Home

Contagious diseases are worrisome, especially in today’s world. Good hygiene practices will help you stay healthy when you are in public so you don’t bring anything home. Whether you’re just getting started with a home improvement project or it’s nearing completion, follow these simple and essential tips:

1. Set Some Ground Rules for Contractors

You have the ability to decide what is and isn’t acceptable in your home. Even under normal circumstances, many homeowners request that construction workers wear shoe covers inside the house. There’s nothing wrong with putting your foot down when it comes to family safety.

Right off the bat you should establish that no one should be working in your home when they are sick. If someone is experiencing any symptoms, your house should be off limits. This includes construction workers, project supervisors, installers, delivery personnel, and other home services professionals.

2. Create Separate Work Spaces

It’s important to separate work areas from parts of the home where your family spends time. Plastic barriers are useful for this. They limit dust and keep germs from entering other rooms.

Every home’s layout is unique, but it’s usually possible to designate separate spaces for construction workers. Set aside a specific entrance door for contractors to use during the entire project. You should also designate a bathroom for workers only or have a portable toilet set up outside for longer projects.

3. Set Boundaries

Once barriers are in place, everyone needs to respect them. Contractors should follow your instructions and always stay within the designated work zone. If contractors need to speak with you for any reason, ask them to call or text you. This eliminates any need to go into other areas of your home.

4. Make Sure Rooms Stay Clean

There are several ways to avoid the spread of contagions within a work site. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in every room for workers to use. This encourages clean work practices and minimizes the chance of spreading infectious disease.

After contractors leave for the night, clean any and all surfaces they came in contact with. If you have to go into a kitchen under construction to prepare meals, use a disinfectant to wipe down surfaces. Disinfect countertops, drawer handles, cabinet doors, microwave handles, stove knobs, and anything else you need to touch.

5. Avoid Work Areas Until Contractors Leave

Avoid contact between your family and builders. Don’t let kids walk near work areas or touch any tools. In fact, you should treat work areas as if they were outside your home. This allows you to keep family areas clean and germ free.

If you have to enter the work area for any reason, make sure to wash your hands when you leave and before touching anything else.

6. Don’t Let Kids Touch Any Tools

It’s important to keep kids away from power tools. Equipment can cause serious harm to little fingers. This preventative measure is even more important in relation to contagious diseases.

Construction workers touch their tools more than anything else. Hammers, tape measures, pencils, and safety goggles may seem harmless, but they can carry countless germs. If possible, ask workers to take their tools when they go home for the night or lock them in a room when they are done.

It’s also wise to follow basic recommendations for disease prevention inside the home. Wash your hands frequently and teach little ones to do the same. Always avoid touching your nose, mouth, or eyes when around other people.

What To Look For When Hiring Contractors

The right contractor for your project is one that wants to make you happy above all else. Great contractors are willing to go the extra mile for you, including taking steps to alleviate any fears related to contagious diseases, allergies, or asthma. No matter what you need, we can help you find home service experts that deliver amazing results. Find the best local contractors for your home improvement projects today.