Safety in and outside the home

LADDER SAFETY

The weight of the user plus materials your ladder is supporting should not exceed its maximum load rating. There should only be one person on the ladder at one time.
Do not use a ladder for any purpose other than that for which it was intended.
Do not step on the top step, bucket shelf, or attempt to climb or stand on the rear section of a step ladder.
Never leave a raised ladder unattended. Use a ladder that is in the proper length for the job, a minimum of three feet extending over the roofline or working surface. Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single, or extension ladder.
Straight, single, or extension ladders should be set up a about a 75-degree angle.
All metal ladders should have slip-resistant feet.
Metal ladders conduct electricity. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder in the vicinity of power lines or electrical equipment. Do not let a ladder made from any material come n contact with live electric wires.
Be sure all locks on extension ladders are properly engaged.
Click to see that the ground under the ladder is level and firm. Large flat wooden boards braced under the ladder can level a ladder on uneven ground or soft ground. A good practice is to have a helper hold the bottom of the ladder.
Do not place a ladder in front of a door that is not locked, blocked, or guarded.
keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean.
Follow the use instruction labels on ladders.

Should you need assistance with your smoke detector or similar issue contact the Renfrew Fire Department 613-432-4848 ext 203 to schedule an appointment and we will come and assist you.

GUTTER CLEANING TIPS

Practice Ladder Safety

Utilize A Garden Hose

Use a garden hose with a pistol-grip trigger spray nozzle.
This type of spray nozzle allows you to adjust the water pressure with the use of just one hand.
A pistol-grip trigger spray nozzle can be easily hung over the front edge of the gutter while moving the ladder or while using a gutter scoop.
This type of spray nozzle can be purchased at any hardware store

Protect Your Hands

Gloves can help protect hands against dirty, rotting leaf debris that often contains bird, pigeon and squirrel droppings that are ridden with bacteria.
Gloves can also prevent painful cuts from the torn metal shards of an old, ragged gutter.
Cotton gloves can soak up dirty water that exposes skin to bacteria.
Leather gloves are not as maneuverable and tend to shrivel up when they dry after cleaning.
Rubber gloves can get poked or torn by metal shards in the gutter.
Thick, suede glove material is recommended because it is superior to cotton, thin leather or rubber gloves.

Protect Your Eyes

Eye protection is a must because one never knows what might fly out of the downspout when cleaning gutters. People have experienced rats, birds, frogs, wasps and bees leaving at high speeds once they start removing a clog, and the last thing they want to have happen is an eye injury.

Clean Off The Roof

Rake or power wash all debris off the roof first. Otherwise, the next rain will wash all the debris down into the clean gutter, clogging it up again. Also, debris left on the roof can lead to water damming up in valleys, around the chimney or near heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, which can cause erosion and roof leaks over time.

Consider Rubber Shoes

If walking on the roof is necessary to perform gutter cleaning, it is good to use rubber-soled shoes. Rubber soles tend to adhere best and prevent slip-and-fall incidents. Rooftops tend to be moist in the morning, so it is best to walk on the roof after the sun is well up in the sky and has dried up all the moisture. Late mornings or early afternoons are the best times to walk on a roof.