5 Essential Safety Tips For Contractors

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Construction worker on working on equipment

If you’re not careful on a construction site, it could cost you in more ways than one. By investing in proper health and safety for contractors, you will save on average between $4-6 on the cost of work-related injuries.

It doesn’t make sense monetarily and professionally to cut corners, does it? Establishing the right tone for any job is the way to go.

To learn five of the best safety tips for contractors, strap on your hard hat and get to work. Read our guide below to become a model contractor.

1. Safety Plan

Before we get started on the construction safety tips, you’ll want to develop a safety plan for your team. This will diminish the chances of accidents and injuries when on the job at a construction site.

You want some commonalities when thinking about worker safety, but it does pay to have it specific to your environment’s needs. You want to allow some wiggle room here as well since contractor jobs are ever-evolving.

With worker safety on your mind, it bodes well to talk to the employees on a construction site too. You will gain the insight you may have otherwise missed.

With multiple companies on a job, to ensure the health and safety of everyone, there ought to be one unified safety plan.

2. Lifting

The second one of our safety tips is how to lift the right way. It is a simple thing to remember, you’ll want everyone on staff to lift with their knees and not their backs. For those who don’t follow this proper lifting technique, chronic back pain may be the result.

Establish good habits from the get-go and you’ll have a team under your belt for years to come. Make worker safety the norm and everyone will win in the end.

3. Awareness

Having awareness on any construction site is one of the best safety tips we can provide. Things like tools present, what equipment and machinery will be available, and weather are all things you’ll want to pay attention to. Keep in mind, things will change throughout the day so you always want to have an adaptive awareness on the job.

Be sure to do your due diligence on business insurance as well.

Aside from general awareness, as a contractor, you’ll want to develop a spatial awareness too. Same-level slips and falls from heights are two of the most common injuries when on a construction site. This will happen when you lose your footing on slick floors.

4. Training

To ensure contractor safety, you need to be properly trained. If you use any tool or machinery without training, you put yourself and your co-workers at risk.

If you don’t have the proper training, let a supervisor know first and foremost.

Take advantage of state-specific safety courses provided by OSHA. Whether a rookie or seasoned veteran, the right training will create the right culture you want.

5. Prevention/Hazard

Perhaps the most important one of our safety tips is to prevent anything from happening in the first place. It is the employees’ and management’s job to ensure this is followed through.

A solid hazard plan consists of solutions, wearing protective gear, and an informative administration.

There needs to be an assistance program for those without PPE (personal protective equipment). You could have the equipment deducted from their pay over time.

Implement Our Contractor Safety Tips

If you follow these five safety tips, you will be setting your team up for success. A construction site works best when it is a tight ship with everyone on the same page.

To further protect the employees on the job, get a quote today on business insurance. Do not hesitate as it will save you the headache in the end.

5 Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know

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Mini white house laying on table surrounded by tools for home maintenance concept

Does it feel like more often than not something is going wrong with your home? Whether it’s the HVAC unit or mold in the bathroom, if you don’t stay on top of home maintenance it can quickly become a nuisance.

When a problem occurs, do you call a professional right away? While you’re on the right track, many household appliances can be fixed in a simple fashion.

In our guide, we’ll discuss five common home issues and how to resolve them. Read on to get your hands dirty.

Turn off the Water

Our first home maintenance know-how is turning off the water. Knowing where your home’s main water shut-off valve is crucial in emergencies. Does yours have a wheel or lever-style handle?

To shut it off, turn the level one-quarter of the way perpendicular to the pipe.

If you will be on vacation or out of the home for a substantial amount of time, it’s best to shut off the water to avoid a plumbing leak. In case anything major happens, it’s always a good idea to set yourself up with homeowner’s insurance.

Hang a Painting

Before hanging a painting or shelf, first, find a wall stud. You’ll want to pick a stud finder for the simplest solution.

Many will use magnets for locating nails or screws in the stud. You’ll want to use a wall stud as opposed to drywall for a more secure hang.

If you can’t seem to find a stud, a molly bolt or drywall anchor will suffice. Put the anchor in the wall first and attach a screw.

Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker

Have you ever had the TV, microwave, air fryer, and toaster oven running simultaneously?

When learning home maintenance tips, resetting a circuit breaker is a necessity. You want to become acquainted with the breaker box of your home.

When you check it out, you’ll notice everything is in the off position and/or marked red. To reset it, first make sure everything connected to it is turned off in your home. From here, flip the circuit breaker back to the on position.

Clean Front-Load Washers and Dryers

You may not think that you need to clean household appliances whose job it is to clean. Your front-load washer and dryers are two home maintenance cleaning musts.

We recommend you clean them at least once a month. The reason for this is that mold and mildew will grow.

Before you research home maintenance services, the solution is quite simple. Set the washer to the hottest, longest setting and add two cups of vinegar with a quarter cup of baking soda. Let it run through a cycle. Once complete, add some water with a sponge to wipe down the drum and rubber seal.

The dryer vent is to be cleared after each load. Aside from this, be sure to vacuum lint in the duct.

Clean the Garbage Disposal

Is there an ungodly smell coming from your sink? Do not fret, as it is a well-known issue amongst homeowners. And you don’t want to get into the habit of abusing the garbage disposal.

The solution is simple—all you need is half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar. Pour the baking soda first, followed by the vinegar. You will see a fizzing chemical reaction take place.

After a few minutes, flush everything down with hot water.

Create a home maintenance schedule and add this to the list so you will remember for next time.

Home Maintenance Will Save You Money

Home maintenance doesn’t need to be difficult. It will often save you time and money in the long run too.

To bring more calmness to your home, get a quote today for homeowner’s insurance. Our team will provide just what you need for you and your family.

9 Tips for a Safe Cookout with Family

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burgers on grill for family cookout

July is National Grilling Month.

In recognition of this special month, we decided to share some safety tips with you. Before we share those tips, we want you to know a couple basic statistics about grilling and grilling fires.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “In 2014-2018, fire departments went to an annual average of 8,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including 3,900 structure fires and 4,900 outside or unclassified fires.”

Also, the NFPA said that “July is the peak month for grill fires.”

If you’re planning a cookout this month, here are 9 tips you can use to grill safely with family and friends:

Keep Grill Lid Open Before Lighting It

DO NOT light your grill while the lid is closed.

The buildup of gas from the closed lid can cause a huge fire to ignite once it’s lit, which can lead to burns and injuries. Always light your grill while the lid is open.

Keep Grill Away from Structures

If a fire were to occur, the fire can spread to anything nearby the grill.

It’s important to keep your grill 10 feet away from your home and surrounding structures such as garages. You should also keep your grill away from trees, shrubs, and flammable items like patio furniture.

Don’t Leave Your Grill Unattended

Anything can happen if you’re not paying attention to your grill. If you can’t monitor your grill, wait until you can grill without interruption.

Clean Your Grill Often

It’s important to help prevent a grease fire from happening on your grill.

To do so, you will need to clean your grill of any grease and fat from the grill itself and the tray under the grill frequently.

Don’t Grill Indoors

Charcoal and gas grills must be used outdoors. DO NOT use these grills indoors.

If you would like an indoor grill, you can purchase an electric grill from your local grocery store. Those grills are safe to use indoors, but you should follow grilling safety practices with those grills as well.

Keep Children and Pets Away from the Grill

Children and pets are not always aware that there is something they shouldn’t be nearby.

Always keep your children and pets away from your grill. This will help prevent them from getting burned and injured.

Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby

You never know when a fire may break out. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby.

It’s also vital for you to learn how to use a fire extinguisher if you’re not sure how they work. This knowledge will be helpful in case you need to use the extinguisher.

Wear the Right Clothes

You’re probably already aware of the basic clothing cooking safety tips, but we want to reiterate them anyway.

You should avoid clothing that hangs or dangles and anything with long sleeves. These parts of your clothing can catch fire easily.

Check for Leaks

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for gas leaks in the hoses of your grill.

While the grill is cool and turned off, you can use water and soap solution to test your hoses for leaks. If you have a leak, the water and soap solution will bubble up on the hose if there is a gas leak.

Please be safe this summer and during this month if you’re planning to grill a lot.

We know that these grilling tips will help you to cook safely with family and friends.