Materials Safety Sheet

What Is Included on a Materials Safety Sheet?

A materials safety tips sheet can remind you of what is most important when it comes to safe home remodeling.

There are many items that should be on your list. Think of it like this; if you were to give this list to your best friend, what important material safety tips would you include on it?

To see an example of a great safety sheet on materials and safe work habits take a look at this OSHA materials and habits checklist for safety during building. It’s from Oregon but very applicable to everyone. The National Association of Homebuilders is another good place to start learning about remodeling and material safety; both for the do it your self types and for individuals looking for a professional to hire.

Following are some of the most important issues that should be included on your safety sheet.

Lead Hazards

Lead is very toxic and one of the big hazards of home remodeling. Most homes have materials exposed during remolding that contain some sort of lead paint, lead infected dust, or lead debris from old fixtures. If you’re exposed to lead it can collect in your bones (much like calcium) and stay there forever. Small children are at the highest risk for lead poisoning, but anyone can be affected. The EPA reports that some of the negative child health issues caused by low levels of lead exposure may include:

• Poor speech and language development
• Learning disabilities and hearing damage
• Weak or damaged bone growth
• Damaged muscle growth and coordination
• Kidney and central nervous system damage

High exposure will really harm children. To compare, high lead exposure in adults can cause:

• Extensive fertility and pregnancy issues such as increased illness, loss of fertility, and brain damage and/or death of a fetus
• Nerve and digestive disorders
• Elevated blood pressure
• Memory loss and problems with everyday concentration

Lead Protection Tips to Include on Your Safety Sheet

• The best way to protect yourself is with a NIOSH certified respirator with a HEPA filter. That’s a lot of words for what’s basically a mask that filters out and removes lead particles from the air around you. Most home improvement stores sell them.

Some other good supplies to have on hand include:

• Cleaners made specifically for lead.
• Protective clothing such as work coverall with safety features
• HEPA filter vacuum – does the same thing as the mask but vacuum style.

The best way to protect your family is to not have them around when you remodel or to reduce the spread of lead dust through your home. To make sure lead isn’t creeping around your house:

1. Construct an airlock with thick double plastic to block off the remodeling area.
2. Remove all furniture before the remodeling starts.
3. Don’t used forced air heating or cooling in the room being remodeled.

This barely scratches the surface of lead and how to stay safe. For more information take a look at OSHA’s Lead Safety page. Also, The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) offers a Lead Safe Work Practices training course for remodeling that’s worth looking into.

Other Material Hazards for Your Safety Sheet

It's a good idea to have separate sheets for all of these material dangers.

• Air-based hazards: Lead is not the only air-based material hazard you’ll see during remodels. Other bad air toxic materials used during building include mold, vermiculite attic insulation, formaldehyde, glues, paints, wood strippers, waxes and more. To learn about protecting yourself from various air hazards visit Healthy Indoor Air.

• Power tools: Power tools can make remodeling so much easier, but they can also cut off a finger or two in the process if you aren't careful. Don’t be that unfortunate individual. Make sure all power equipment including saws, grinders and heavy duty drills are in perfect working order. Make sure you also know how to use the tools and wear safety goggles and a mask.

• Hot material: This is one of the most important issues to include on your materials safety sheet. Hot material hazards of remodeling include welding equipment, flammable materials, burning chemicals and using the correct electrical safety tips at home. Stay cool by knowing the proper use and by making sure the equipment is something you really need to use. Never light matches or lighters around flammable material you may have on site. This Web site offers one of the most complete safety sheet run-downs on chemicals of all kinds.

• Trips and slips: You may be able to master a bandsaw or heated chemical but remember to keep the remodeling area clean and look where you’re going. A majority of accidents that happen during home remodeling are trips over building materials or fall from ladders based on general human error. Slow and steady is a great self remodeling pace.

• Two last issues: Make sure to always have an emergency safety first aid kit or two around when you remodel. Additionally, Georgia Tech offers a great slide show all about home remodeling safety. You can sit at your computer and learn a lot.