Blog Tips - What are "tags"

It’s a good time to remind ourselves of some important winter maintenance tips now that the holidays are over.  Here are some basic tips you can use that will help you keep your property safe for your tenants and visitors:

1. Trim trees and remove dead branches to prevent injuries to residents and visitors and/or damage to surrounding properties from falling branches.
2. Check gutters regularly; clear them of debris so melting snow & ice can flow freely.
3. Maintain steps and handrails.  Repair broken stairs and railings as soon as you become aware of them.
4. Check pipes and wrap them with heating tape.  Check for cracks and leaks; repair minor pipe damage immediately to prevent more severe damage from occurring from neglect.
5. Inspect sidewalks, driveways and entryways regularly and keep them free from snow and ice.  Have a supply of salt and/or sand readily available and apply whenever conditions require it.  This is important even if you have hired a winter maintenance contractor to do this for you.  Maintain a written record of your inspections and applications of surface treatment material.

For more information, you can check out Safety and the Holiday Season.

The statistics of stovetop fires are staggering and paints a grim picture.  Ontario averages more than 6,000 preventable home fires annually and the majority of these fires start in the kitchen.  68% of all home cooking fires involve stove-tops, and unattended cooking accounts for 69% of these fires.  Multi-unit residences are at the highest risk, where over 43% of all stove-top fires occur.

AM800 Radio Interview with Rusty Thompson
During the holidays I became a local celebrity in the Windsor/Sarnia area when I was interviewed on AM800 about stovetop fires and stovetop safety. Rusty Thompson of AM800 radio reached me in my hotel room as I was travelling to visit my in-laws – so I was in a festive mood! Rusty was well-prepared and introduced the subject well. He referred our work with the Electrical Safety Authority, how our goals in terms of fire safety aligned with them and also with the Ontario Fire Marshal to educate social housing tenants about safe practices, and recommended stove-top fire prevention products such as the Safe-T-Element, which has been endorsed by fire marshals across North America.

I echoed the words of Social Housing Services Corporation CEO, Lindsey Reed, who pointed out that “Something as simple as turning away from the stove to answer the phone or offer your guest a drink can distract you long enough for a fire to start. By following the basic rules of fire prevention and installing fire prevention products, everyone can go a long way to avoiding stove-top fires and protecting themselves and their loved ones.”

I provided a personal story about how I had (accidentally) put a tea towel onto the stovetop, which was still hot – we can all learn some simple rules, I told Rusty.  I ended my interview by giving some simple tips to help prevent fires including:
•    Making sure stove tops and nearby counters are kept clear and uncluttered
•    Keeping curtains, utensils, paper towels and other things that can burn away from the stove
•    Ensuring pot handles are turned inward so they can’t be bumped

If you are interested in stovetop Safe-T-Elements, they are available through the SHSC’s Appliance Bulk Buy Program.

The holiday season is here! To help you have a festive season and prevent accidents related to holiday decorating, here are some helpful tips for you and your tenants:

• Use only non-flammable decorations (i.e. CSA-approved lights and electrical decorations).
• Make sure to keep lights, ornaments, tinsel and other tasty-looking decorations off the floor and out of reach of children or pets.
• If you’re putting up a real tree to decorate your foyer or other common areas, make sure you keep it watered.
• Check your holiday lights – they should not be hot to the touch. Also check your electrical outlets and circuits. They should not have any broken ground plugs, frayed wiring, broken sockets, cuts, nicks or gaps in insulation.
• Don’t overload your electric outlets and circuits by using multiple plugs, circuit extenders/splitters or multiple extension cords.
• Candles should be placed on a fireproof base or in holders that cannot be easily knocked down or reached by children and pets.
• Keep a working fire extinguisher handy and familiarize yourself and your staff with its use.
• Make sure emergency exits are clearly marked.

Make sure to share these tips with your tenants and have a safe and happy holiday season.