• Housekeeping is everyone's responsibility. Keep your area  clean and orderly.  Put away tools, materials, and equipment in their designated  area when finished.
• Lifting: Always lift heavy materials using safe lifting practices.   "Safe" means using your legs, not your back - and get help when you need it.
• Pay Attention: Remember that things may be going on above or below you.
• Do not throw construction materials, tools, or yourself off roofs.
• Take breaks for a drink of water every ? hour.  Sit down if you feel tired.
• Be aware of heights and when on a roof be sure you have secure footing and watch where you are going.
• Report any injuries or accidents to a staff member. There is a first aid kit available.
• No children under 16 at the work site. It can be a dangerous place.

Summary of Guidelines for construction volunteers:

Thank you for coming out to build with us!

At the construction site, you can expect to meet a lot of great people, have fun, and be a part in making a dream come true. You will not be asked to do something you are not comfortable with, such as getting on a roof, or operating power tools. The work will be broken down into small manageable tasks, and you do not need any special skills in order to be a part of Habitat for Humanity.

• Wear appropriate clothing - no baggy clothing, especially if operating power tools.  Tie long hair back and remove jewelry.  Hats, sunscreen and sunglasses are advisable year-round in the New Mexico sun.  Bring work gloves and wear sturdy shoes.  We can provide hard hats if there is risk of objects falling from above.  You are welcome to bring your own tools if you wish; be sure to label them!  Some of habitat’s best tools were “donated” by volunteers.

• Housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility. Keep your area clean and orderly.  Put away tools, materials, and equipment in their designated area when finished.  Return all nails to containers.  Take all nails out of scrap boards.

• Lifting - Always lift using safe lifting practices.  Use your legs, not your back.  If in doubt, get help.

• Pay attention - Remember that things may be going on above you. And when you are working on the second floor, remember that things are going on down below!

• Do not throw construction materials, tools, or yourself off of roofs.

• Take breaks for a drink of water every half-hour.  Take a sit-down break if you feel tired, especially in the afternoon after you have been working all day.

• Be aware of heights and please do not go up on roofs if you are afraid of heights or ladders.  When on a roof, please make sure you have secure footing and watch where you are going.  Secure ladders to the wall, or have someone hold them at the bottom.

• Report all injuries and accidents to a staff member.  There is a first aid kit at the office trailer.

• No children at the work site.  This can be a dangerous place.  No one under 14 is allowed to work, or even “hang around” the site.  There is no safe place for day care on the site.

• Site “amenities” include port-a-potties and water to replenish your water bottle.  There is no refrigerator for storing your lunch.

• Another way to help Habitat is financially.  Send a check or money order to our office at the address above. Contributions are tax-deductible, and a receipt will be provided.
Have fun! And thanks for your help.
How to Register and Sign Up for Work!
We need to know how many volunteers to expect on any given Saturday, your capabilities and experience, and how to contact you. Here’s how to register as a Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity volunteer and how to sign up to work on projects.  Please click on the white VolUP button on the right of your screen.  You will be taken directly to a calendar showing active GAHH projects. Click on login at the top left of the calendar. Here you may register if you are new to GAHH, or log in to volunteer for a project if you have previously registered. After you log in, you can sign up for a specific project and day by clicking “SignUp” in one or more calendar boxes.  Call our office right away at 265-0057 if you are having difficulties.

Once you become familiar with the VolunteerUP site, you will see how easy it is to sign up, see a summary of your volunteer commitments, and change them if necessary. If you are registering for the first time, you should also click on “waiver” at the top of the calendar, print the waiver form, and bring it to your first work site, or drop it by the GAHH office at 204 San Mateo SE.  We look forward to meeting you and working along side to build up the Albuquerque community.