If you are thinking of volunteering for this build, please carefully read the following:

Volunteer safety is of paramount importance to us. Therefore, all volunteers, no matter what their previous level of experience, must review our safety rules (below) before joining us on the build and agree to follow them. 

Safety Equipment is mandatory. Anyone who walks on to the build site during the construction phase must be wearing CSA-approved steel-toed boots and a hard hat. While we can supply you with a hard hat, we unfortunately cannot supply all sizes of steel-toed boots and you will need to provide your own boots. Depending on the job you are doing, you may also be supplied with ear and eye protection. The construction phase will be followed by the finishing phase, during which time sturdy, closed toed-shoes or hiking boots should be adequate in most cases. You will be notified about appropriate safety gear for every job.

Apparel: For safety, all shirts should have at least short sleeves (no "muscle" t-shirts) but avoid loose, flowing sleeves. Long pants are recommended. Shorts should be below the knee, no "short" shorts.

Waivers: All volunteers must sign our liability waiver which will be provided to you.

Children: As a general rule, we cannot allow volunteers under the age of 16 on the site. There may be exceptions on days when we are doing fencing or landscaping and are in the final stages of finishing the house. Please check with us before bringing your children with you to volunteer.


Sign-in: Please report to a supervisor when you arrive at the site. You will be asked to sign in with your name and also to sign out when you are finished. This procedure allows us to keep track of who is on site for safety reasons and also  track the number of volunteer hours that are contributed. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Publicity: From time to time, we may be taking photographs or inviting the media to the site. Therefore, you may be photographed while on the build site.

Location: The build site is on Elk Road near East Boundary Road. Volunteers coming from Kelowna can turn left on Bartley Road (at the Bylands, the first set of lights after Ross Road) and follow the road approximately three kilometres past Chief Tomat Elementary School on the left; Elk Road is the next left.

Parking: Parking is not recommended on Elk Road as there are no shoulders. A friendly neighbor has allowed us to park on his property across the street from the entrance to the build site. Or you can park around the corner on nearby Pheasant Lane.

Bathroom facilities: There is a porta-potty on site.

Water: Because we are following environmentally sensitive principles, we are not providing bottled water on site. You may wish to bring your own water or non-alcoholic beverage with you. Water in a jug is provided and volunteers will receive one complimentary Habitat for Humanity water bottle.




General Safety Rules:

No volunteer will be asked or allowed to use power equipment or work at heights without training and/or prior experience.

Speak up. If something looks unsafe, it probably is.
If you are uncertain how to do a task, ask your crew leader.
Don't lift beyond your strength. Ask for help.
Use caution as you carry items on the site. Don't hit other persons.
Do not run on site. No rough-housing or horseplay on site.
Know where fire extinguishers are located.
Keep electrical cords free of entanglement.
Keep barriers around floor openings in place.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times, including any activity overhead.
Barricade a drop area whenever dropping things from elevation to the ground.
 
First aid
Know where first aid is located and how to access first aid assistance.
Report all injuries to your crew leader and to first aid, however slight.

Housekeeping
Many accidents can be avoided with proper on-site housekeeping.
Waste shall not be allowed to accumulate. Regular cleanup is required.
Keep tools, electrical cords, etc, stored properly when not in use.
Recycle paper, cardboard and recyclable plastic.

Other
No music which inhibits communication between workers.
When in doubt - stop and ask questions - there are no stupid questions.

Thank you for your support of Habitat for Humanity. With the generosity and compassion of people like you, HFH has built over 300,000 homes around the world. We hope you can join us in creating more houses for and with our partner families.

Interested in joining the fun?
For safety and organizational reasons, it's important that you always contact us before coming to volunteer at the site. The Build Bulletin emails will keep you up-to-date on how many volunteers are needed on any particular day. 

Please email us and ask to join the Build Bulletin list.