OHSA probably will not be coming around this holiday season, but maybe they should. Hundreds of people are hurt every year installing holiday decorations cuts, broken bones, strains, electrocution, and falls from ladders, falls from roofs, tripping, slipping, and sliding. These things and more will do it every time putting a big damper on your family holiday. Here are six ways to make life easier and longer lasting.

1.Moving Heavy Boxes Dont carry too much weight. Bend your knees when picking things up. Use a dolly or cart to move items around. Be extra careful when carrying up or down stairs. Get help for the big awkward boxes that you cant get your hands around.

2.Step Ladders & Extension Ladders Use only on level surfaces make sure the legs are secure not sliding. Dont stand on top stop where the manufacturer recommends. Have a helper when carrying a large ladder. Extension ladders have a helper holding the feet so they dont move while youre going up and down. Watch out for electrical wiring an aluminum ladder against your electrical services wires can put you out forever.

3.Outside Lighting Use GFCI receptacles on all outdoor lighting. If wiring from inside use receptacles in the garage, kitchen or bathrooms they are normally GFCI protected then check to insure they are. Extension cords, lights, power strips, and timers all must be outside rated and weatherproof. Check the boxes and manufactures tags/stickers for use instructions. A good idea is to hire an electrician place outside GFIC receptacles where you need them.

4.Heavy Decorations Hanging or installing heavy decorations like the Santa on the roof or large wreath covering half of the second floor. Keep yourself safe climbing around on a roof is dangerous business. Make sure you securely fasten these or any large decorations in place. There always are windy nights and we would hate to have Santa take out the front of uncle Vinnies corvette.

5.Inside Decorations they are no different, make sure the tree is secure and wont fall over. Place the stand on a piece of plywood 18 x 18 or a size at least as large as the legs. This plywood base should have the legs screwed into it. Watch out hanging decoration from light fixtures or railings. Keep stairs and doorways clear of decorations. Dont over load outlets, use power strips with ground fault breakers and check all extension cords.

6.Clean up Back to Storage cleaning up and packaging can be as dangerous as when you installed the decorations. Disconnect from the outlets any electrical cords before taking down the lights. Have your helper there with you again for ladders and all heavy objects.

Safely install and safely take down all holiday decorations and then youll be around to do it all over again next year. Arent you the lucky one?

Have a very Happy Holiday and a Merry Christmas.

Bill Carey

Real Estate Broker, Investor and Home Builder with his wife Karen make their home in Charlotte North Carolina. With over 30 years in real estate Bill has a unique perspective on the real estate business having personally bought and sold homes in the various northeast, midwest and southern states. Bill is a licensed Real Estate Broker in North and South Carolina working with home buyers and homeowners in the Charlotte, NC region. As a home builder and project manager he over saw construction of executive style single family homes to multi story multi family projects. His first investment along with a partner in 1975 was a small 2 bedroom 1 bath single family home renovated into a 4 bedroom 2 bath student rental, 2 years later sold at a nice profit. Bill and Karen now invest in real estate in the Carolina's resort locations along the southern beaches and mountains.