If grantees have not already done so, it is recommended that they check in with their CDSS licensing analyst to avoid potential licensing violations related to construction projects.
Grantees are encouraged to view the brief video below for things to consider regarding child safety and construction projects.
TRANSCRIPT
This video will explore the topic of keeping children safe during construction projects. Once you are ready for your licensed contractors to begin their work, the need to maintain a safe environment takes center stage.
A new construction or home renovation project can take days or weeks to complete. With this timeframe in mind, it's important to proactively ensure that the children in your care are as safe as possible.
The process of a home renovation is difficult for adults, but add children and expect a whole new level of challenges that requires some extra thought about safety.
The following tips and guidance are provided by Dr. Sophie j Bach. She's a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee of the Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change.
Most precautions or common sense children will be curious about new people and things in their environment. It's important to keep them well supervised and out of the way of contractors and equipment.
Pay attention as contractors go in and out, possibly leaving doors open and giving children in your care a chance to slip outside.
You wanna secure construction areas by locking doors or putting up physical barriers like this plastic sheeting until work is complete.
Also, give children some rules such as not playing with leftover building materials. This will keep them safe from dangers like unattended power tools uncovered electrical sockets, sharp edges, and stray nails.
During renovation projects in childcare homes or centers built before 1978, there is a potential risk of disturbing painted surfaces that contain lead and could release this substance into the air.
Exposure to any levels of lead is hazardous to children and particularly so to children that are under the age of six.
Under federal law. Any contractor who will disturb a painted surface in a home childcare center, or school built before 1978 must be certified and follows certain work practices to make sure there's no lead contamination.
As a reminder, you should always ask to see a contractor's certification to mitigate any lead exposure. It's it recommended that children and women who are pregnant avoid areas undergoing renovation and return only when the work is safely completed.
Another substance of concern is asbestos, which can be found in vinyl flooring, ceiling tiles, textured paint, uh, coverings for hot water and steam pipes and other materials.
If it's in good condition, the material is considered safe, But asbestos fibers, which can be released into the air during remodeling can cause cancer.
If there is a concern about asbestos exposure, as certified asbestos contractor should be consulted to remove it. More information can be found at the link at the bottom of this page.
A child's runny nose could be caused by many things, but in this case, it could be this new carpet. Besides nose, eye, and throat irritation, people have reported headaches, shortness of breath, and feeling tired after a new carpet was installed.
These symptoms may be caused by volatile organic compounds, better known as VOCs, which are chemicals that are released from the carpet.
Consider installing carpets, padding, and other materials that emit lower amounts of these types of chemicals. Retailers can provide information about those products while installers should air out carpets ahead of time.
Caregivers can open windows and doors to help. If you suspect that children in your care have symptoms caused by a new carpet, have them play and sleep in another room to see if they improve.
If not, it's advisable to have any child displaying symptoms and his or her parents consult a physician. It is also a good idea to avoid chemicals that are used to make carpets, furnishings, or be stain resistant or fire resistant.
These chemicals do not work well and can cause long-term health problems. If you are adding new carpeting, look for options that don't list these types of features.
You can also expect dust during remodeling. Be sure to clean well during and after projects to help prevent construction dust from irritating allergies and asthma.
Mopping with a wet mop is best. Don't forget to clean vents. Vent covers duct work and radiators. Finally, construction projects can be noisy, excessive noise can damage hearing.
Pay attention to noise created by renovation activities and keep children away from excessive noise exposure whenever possible. Don't hesitate to confer with a pediatrician should you have any questions or concerns about keeping the children in your care safe and healthy.
Thank you for your help in keeping our children safe.
0:02 This video will explore the topic of keeping children safe during construction projects. Once you are ready for your licensed contractors to begin their work, the need to maintain a safe environment takes center stage. 0:19 A new construction or home renovation project can take days or weeks to complete. With this timeframe in mind, it's important to proactively ensure that the children in your care are as safe as possible. 0:33 The process of a home renovation is difficult for adults, but add children and expect a whole new level of challenges that requires some extra thought about safety. 0:44 The following tips and guidance are provided by Dr. Sophie j Bach. She's a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee of the Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change. 0:58 Most precautions or common sense children will be curious about new people and things in their environment. It's important to keep them well supervised and out of the way of contractors and equipment. 1:11 Pay attention as contractors go in and out, possibly leaving doors open and giving children in your care a chance to slip outside. 1:23 You wanna secure construction areas by locking doors or putting up physical barriers like this plastic sheeting until work is complete. 1:32 Also, give children some rules such as not playing with leftover building materials. This will keep them safe from dangers like unattended power tools uncovered electrical sockets, sharp edges, and stray nails. 1:49 During renovation projects in childcare homes or centers built before 1978, there is a potential risk of disturbing painted surfaces that contain lead and could release this substance into the air. 2:04 Exposure to any levels of lead is hazardous to children and particularly so to children that are under the age of six. 2:11 Under federal law. Any contractor who will disturb a painted surface in a home childcare center, or school built before 1978 must be certified and follows certain work practices to make sure there's no lead contamination. 2:29 As a reminder, you should always ask to see a contractor's certification to mitigate any lead exposure. It's it recommended that children and women who are pregnant avoid areas undergoing renovation and return only when the work is safely completed. 2:46 Another substance of concern is asbestos, which can be found in vinyl flooring, ceiling tiles, textured paint, uh, coverings for hot water and steam pipes and other materials. 3:00 If it's in good condition, the material is considered safe, But asbestos fibers, which can be released into the air during remodeling can cause cancer. 3:11 If there is a concern about asbestos exposure, as certified asbestos contractor should be consulted to remove it. More information can be found at the link at the bottom of this page. 3:29 A child's runny nose could be caused by many things, but in this case, it could be this new carpet. Besides nose, eye, and throat irritation, people have reported headaches, shortness of breath, and feeling tired after a new carpet was installed. 3:46 These symptoms may be caused by volatile organic compounds, better known as VOCs, which are chemicals that are released from the carpet. 3:56 Consider installing carpets, padding, and other materials that emit lower amounts of these types of chemicals. Retailers can provide information about those products while installers should air out carpets ahead of time. 4:09 Caregivers can open windows and doors to help. If you suspect that children in your care have symptoms caused by a new carpet, have them play and sleep in another room to see if they improve. 4:22 If not, it's advisable to have any child displaying symptoms and his or her parents consult a physician. It is also a good idea to avoid chemicals that are used to make carpets, furnishings, or be stain resistant or fire resistant. 4:39 These chemicals do not work well and can cause long-term health problems. If you are adding new carpeting, look for options that don't list these types of features. 4:52 You can also expect dust during remodeling. Be sure to clean well during and after projects to help prevent construction dust from irritating allergies and asthma. 5:04 Mopping with a wet mop is best. Don't forget to clean vents. Vent covers duct work and radiators. Finally, construction projects can be noisy, excessive noise can damage hearing. 5:16 Pay attention to noise created by renovation activities and keep children away from excessive noise exposure whenever possible. Don't hesitate to confer with a pediatrician should you have any questions or concerns about keeping the children in your care safe and healthy. 5:39 Thank you for your help in keeping our children safe.