- Conduct a smoke detector battery exchange twice a year at all properties. Keep alog of the exchange with tenant’s acknowledgement.
- Perform routine maintenance and have maintenance contracts (i.e. yearly furnace cleaning and inspection, etc.)
- Check or and remove any accumulations of debris around furnaces within three feet of circuit boards or fuse boxes.
- Exterior maintenance: Keep trees, bushes and other landscaping trimmed back to improve visibility. Maintain exterior lighting.
- Sidewalks, driveways and parking areas should present a smooth safe walking surface.
- Keep paper records of interactions with tenants, including a phone log of all calls from tenants.
- Use an inspection checklist for every visit to the apartment.
- Have signs posted at the playground and pool if the areas are unsupervised.
- Prior to applying any chemicals to the interior or exterior of the building, advise the tenants.
- To minimize reactions to paint, thinners, carpet glues or new carpet, ventilate the area.
- Address the presence of mold as quickly as possible to reduce tenant reactions to mold spores.
- In buildings built prior to 1970, check for, then remediate any lead paint present in the building.
- Fence pools and use self-closing gates, mark the depths and place signs if lifeguards are not present.
- Keep emergency exits clear and unobstructed; in common areas, install exit signs and emergency lights.
- Handrails 41 inches high with openings between balusters no larger than four inches should be installed on all stairs and ramps.
- Current certificates of insurance should be maintained for all contractors who perform work on your premises. You should use a subcontractor agreement containing a hold harmless (indemnification clause) in your favor and be named as an “additional insured” on the subcontractor’s general liability policy, preferably on a “primary and con-contributory” basis. This will serve to reduce your liability, damage or injury exposure if a loss is caused by the contractor.
- Check your playground – does it comply with the recommendations of the Consumer Product Safety Commissions recommendations? (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/327.html)
Public Playground Safety Checklist
- Make sure surfaces around playground equipment have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or area mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.
- Check that protective surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
- Make sure play structures more than 30 inches high are placed at least nine feet apart.
- Check for dangerous hardware like open “S’ hooks or protruding bold end.
- Make sure spaces that could trap children such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
- Check for sharp points or edges in equipment.
- Look out for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps and rocks.
- Make sure elevated surfaces like platforms and ramps have guardrails to prevent a fall.
- Check playgrounds regularly to see that equipment and surfacing are in good condition.
- Carefully supervise children on playgrounds to make sure they’re safe.
Editor’s Note: Be sure to call for your FREE money-saving quote from our exclusive AOA Group Insurance Program at 800-227-7434 or visit www.aoausa.com/insurance.html. Many AOA members are enjoying substantial savings on their insurance costs.
Reprinted with permission of the Vermont Apartment Owners Newsletter.
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