The Real Hazards of Asking People to Help

Churches and schools have ongoing maintenance needs and also engage in a wide range of construction projects. Whether it's a clean-up day, building new facilities, remodeling old ones, working on a house for Habitat for Humanity, or repairing homes for the poor, church members and school volunteers are active in maintenance and construction. Some custodians and members who work on these projects are expert carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. Many, though, are amateurs who rarely use circular saws, air powered nail guns, or other power equipment. The mix of inexperience, limited supervision, and power equipment poses real hazards. As a result serious accidents regularly occur in maintenance and construction projects.

Churches can prevent many injuries by following a simple, but effective program that provides training for custodians and use of a safety supervisor for clean-up days ...