Home inspectors – we never really know what we are in for when we enter a home. Some places might be well maintained with no obstacles blocking any access. The next home might be old with rotten floors, sketchy electrical wiring, and other hazards.
It takes a lot of diligence and awareness to stay safe on the job. Since most of the time, a lot of us work alone, it’s on us to keep ourselves safe. This also means you need to develop your own personal safety strategy.
We provide some suggestions below, but please also listen to our interview with Bob Madewell who was attacked at a home, and what he suggests you do to keep yourself safe while inspecting.
Here are some ways to be safe on the job:
Design a Safety Strategy
The first thing is awareness. To keep yourself on track, create your safety program. You might forget that the same hazards that existed on your last inspection can still happen in the following location.
Conduct Safety Meeting (for multi-inspector firms)
If you are working with a crew, you should have a safety meeting regularly. It could be a quick huddle at the site or a formal meeting once a week in the office. Most inspectors might work as sole proprietors, but that doesn’t mean you no longer need a safety meeting.
Proactively research safety issues that home inspectors usually encounter. You’ll be surprised to discover a lot of things you didn’t know before. Solo or with a crew, you should allocate time to be updated on keeping yourself safe on the job.
Don’t be frugal on Protection.
You should never skimp when it comes to safety and protection. Do not sacrifice your safety just because you want to save money like buying cheaper tools that might become dangerous in the long run. It is still best to invest in equipment that will ensure safety and functionality.
It is recommended to invest in equipment that includes a full-face respirator, a good smartphone, a well-made ladder, fire extinguisher, a complete first-aid kit, and a voltage tester. You’ll also have tools that will make sense depending on the home you inspect. It is essential to remind yourself that this is an investment in your health and safety.
First-Aid Training is a Must
You work solo. If anything goes wrong, you should be ready to deal with it. It is beneficial to have a first-aid course to recognize hazards, avoid risks and learn the remedies you can do if you end up with something sharp, angry, or poisonous.
As you learn about the risks and safety issues of the homes you inspect, the better you can avoid them. An example would be preventing accidental shocks from parts of the home you do not expect to occur because you already learned about them.
If you are looking for some articles on Home Inspections, you might find How Many People Should Be on a Home Inspection? and Why Get a Pre-Listing Home Inspection? interesting.