Contractor City Blog

There are many potential hazards in older homes that could pop up during a remodel. However, a majority of these potential really depend upon the age of the building in question.

One hazard is asbestos. Asbestos usually can be identified in insulation and fire retardants. Asbestos was also used in tile, siding, and adhesives. In the United States there are no houshold products made from asbestos. In other parts of the world we are not so lucky.

Asbestos is especially dangerous when it is friable or in small pieces. The testing and removal of asbestos is best left to professionals. Abatement of asbestos is expensive, but your health is priceless.

Lead is another material that was commonly used in construction. As a matter of fact, plumbing means working in lead. All the pipes in Rome where made of lead. Most likely in a house remodel you will find lead in pipe joints and lead in paint.

Again the removal of lead is best left to professionals. There are many documented long term health risks associated with lead.

Construction itself has many hazards. It is important to follow all the guidelines for wearing personal protective equipment or PPE. A good source for safety lectures Continue reading ‘How to recognize and dispose of dangerous materials discovered while remodeling your home’ »

Part 1926 of the Code of Federal Regulations is found in volume 8 of the 1999 edition. It’s part of title 29, which deals with labor issues and the Department of Labor. More specifically, Part 1926 deals with safety and health regulations for construction, and is enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

After first defining federal rules and procedures for such things as inspections and granting of variances, Part 1926 addresses numerous subjects of importance during construction or demolition. Topics covered include rules of construction, general safety and health provisions, safety training, first aid, fire prevention, proper lighting, sanitation, barricades, and protective equipment.

Part 1926 also includes sections dealing with safety in the building and repairing of ships, the use of construction machinery such as cranes, and specific practices to be followed when performing construction or demolition work underground or underwater.

Continue reading ‘Code for Federal Regulations about construction practices’ »