Develop an asbestos-free health and safety plan

Make your health safety plan objectives for dust containment and cleanup procedures clear with contractors, friends and family before work begins. Asbestos poses a remodeling hazard. For a list of common asbestos-containing home materials and tips on safely dealing with them during remodeling, go to www.epa.gov/asbestos and click on Asbestos in Your Home.

One often-overlooked hazard involves lead dust, a serious indoor health risk, especially in households with children or expectant mothers. Homes built before 1960 contain paints with the highest concentration of lead. All homes built before 1978 almost certainly contain some amount of lead paint.

Create a strategy to protect the rest of the home from dust and debris hazards. If necessary, use tape and plastic to seal heating vents in and near work areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers excellent guidelines for addressing lead hazards during remodeling. Visit www.epa.gov/lead or call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-LEAD for help creating a plan to deal with lead hazards during remodeling.

If removing walls or wallboard, always shut off the electricity to that portion of the house. Also consider the safety of the tools you use, and how you will remove materials.

You may need an extra set of hands for bulky or awkward items. Nails, glass, and sharp metal pose common hazards on a construction site. Reduce the risk of a painful puncture or snag by removing nails from lumber, molding, and cabinetry as you go.

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos illness like mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis, complete the form on this page to get a FREE and prompt review of your case by a leading asbestos attorney. Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading mesothelioma law firm with a substantial history of success in asbestos exposure cases.