A quick glance around, with an eye toward keeping your home safe, should be an on going concern. Ignoring such things as, trip and fall hazards and/or potential structural failure, can cause serious injuries. I seem to be pointing out the obvious, yet tripping and structural failures injure or kill thousands every year.
Some common hazards are: Loose or torn carpet; concrete that has lifted and/or cracked, creating an uneven surface; loose bricks; muddy surfaces; loose gutters; objects left on stairs or walkways; protruding land scrape borders; loose handrails; overhanging objects; deterioration of structural members; etc.
A new home is no guarantee of a safe environment either. Often best practices are ignored and are some times missed by inspectors who might be stretched to too many job sites in one day. I couldn't count the number of times I have heard the phrase, "That's good enough", on a job.
In particular, too many preventable deaths occur from weight limits being exceeded on balconies or decks. These structures are never meant to support a large crush of party-goers. Balconies can separate from the wall do to poor attachment points and decks can twist do to poor bracing. In addition water damage leading to dry rot or termite infestation can further weaken the structure.
Take to heart any stories or warnings you receive. These warnings can come from multiple sources, such as, friends or family, neighbors, news outlets, or even, perhaps, from my humble blog.
Terry Pold
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