Caution Tape May Have Its Limitations

Law Blog

Home improvements require more than "cracking a few eggs." Homeowners may need to break up the sidewalk, tear out the roof, and more. Breaking up a significant amount of concrete to redo the front walkway and accompanying driveway creates a hazard. Until rubble gets removed and new concrete pours and dries, someone could slip and fall. Other renovations create similar hazards. Based on the size of the job, one day might not be enough. And there could be a lot of debris to deal with, as well. To mitigate the risks, putting up caution tape makes sense. Diligence becomes necessary when using caution tape, as the tape, itself, could create another hazard.

Properly Securing the Tape

Draping caution tape may be a cheap and easy way to do things, but is this an efficient strategy. If people can't see the tape, then no. Using duct tape to hang two or three strips of caution tape against a wall near a demolished or work-in-progress area doesn't block foot traffic. The homeowner and contractor now rely on people seeing the tape, which might not be enough. The tape might be out of many people's field of vision, and there are other issues to consider.

Weather and Caution Tape

The weather can cause issues for poorly secured caution tape. Heavy winds can lead the tape to come loose and fly away. Ironically, caution tape cast to the wind can cause a trip and fall hazard, the same problem it intends to prevent. Take steps to make sure the caution tape remains both visible and secure. Otherwise, problems may arise.

Creating Hazards with the Fasteners

Placing chairs out on a public walkway and wrapping caution tape around would trick potential trip-inducing obstructions. Tying tape in knots around bricks doesn't seem like a great plan. Someone could stumble over the bricks. Homeowners must look for the safest, most effective fasteners. Otherwise, they could create dangers for others.

Caution Doesn't Last Forever

Proper planning also cuts down on potential problems. Creating a hazard, wrapping caution tape around it, and then planning on repair/remodeling work three weeks later seems like a troubling plan. Questions arise about why wasn't the demolition work done closer to the repair work. Was there any planning involved? The answers could point to negligent behavior.

Those who suffer injuries on or near a cautioned-off worksite may have a unique case. Speaking about the matter with a personal injury lawyer might help clarify concerns over possible litigation.

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16 July 2020

Knowing Your Legal Rights Can Help You Greatly in Life

Like many people, I once found learning about law very intimidating. My brother went to law school and I remember glancing through a few of his books and wondering if I was actually reading English due to all of the legal jargon in them! However, when I ended up in a sticky legal situation due to accidentally breaking a small law I didn't know existed, I realized that I needed to learn more about the law, so I could make sure to follow it precisely in the future. My brother helped to break down some complicated legal concepts to me, and I have since been studying up online. I want to post what I have learned and continue to learn about law in the future on my new blog, so my knowledge cannot only help myself, but also help others!