Vital Health and Safety that every apartment building owner should do

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A vital part of owning an apartment building, which many people aspire to do, is to stay up-to-date on all legislation. One aspect of this legislation involves conducting a health and safety assessment for your building.

This ensures that the building is safe both inside and out. A tenant living in an unsafe building can be very costly, so it's imperative that you take the time to conduct monthly assessments. 

There are several ways you can easily go about each month ensuring your property is being looked after.

Here are some Health and Safety assessments every owner should do:

Fire Safety
Fire safety is essential for any apartment building. Every owner should have a fire safety plan in place and should make sure all tenants know how to evacuate the building in the event of a fire. Owners should also perform regular fire drills to ensure that everyone can safely evacuate the building in case of an emergency. The emergency services will have the relevant fire reporting software and equipment to be able to document the incident accurately, and get everyone to safety, so you just need to make sure that those in your building know what to do and where to go should fire break out. 
 
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is another important safety assessment for apartment buildings. Owners should create a plan for how tenants will evacuate the building in the event of an emergency. They should also test this plan regularly to ensure everyone knows how to evacuate the building safely in case of an emergency.

Electrical safety assessment
Ensure all electrical wiring and fixtures are up to code and in good condition. Install appropriate fire suppression systems in common areas, like smoke detectors and sprinklers.

Structural safety assessment
Evaluate the structural stability of the building, looking for any damage or weaknesses that could lead to a collapse. Repair any defects immediately.

Water testing
Legionella risk assessment is an extremely important part of the health and safety audits that most landlords conduct because there are many potential problems with their buildings' pipes and fixtures related to the use of city water.

The dangers associated with this contamination can range from innocent food poisoning to Legionnaires' disease and serious bacterial infections such as cholera and typhoid fever. Water tests generally consist of chlorine test strips or a water sample sent to a lab for tests.

Plumbing system safety assessment
Ensure all pipes are in good condition, well ventilated and won't freeze when it's cold outside. In addition, drainage systems should be in working order, not clogged with sediment or other pollutants that could cause a backup in the event of a sudden surge of water use in the building.

Hazardous materials 
Hazardous materials assessments are important for ensuring that poisonous gases have been properly ventilated from all apartments, in addition to making sure that there is no mould or asbestos in apartments. In addition, it is crucial to make sure that common areas such as laundry rooms and elevators are safe for tenants.

Emergency preparedness
Emergency preparedness is another key area that all apartment building owners should focus on.

Emergencies can range from a simple power outage to a major natural disaster, and it is important to be prepared for anything.

Some things you can do to prepare for an emergency include creating an emergency plan and stocking up on supplies such as food, water, and flashlights.