TECHNICIAN SAFETY IN A CRAWLSPACE
2005 Article
Let's face it; no one likes working in a crawlspace. They are poorly lit areas with limited workspace. One is generally covered with dirt and mud and insulation after work is complete. It is not uncommon for construction debris to be present, along with an assortment of bugs and critters. It is just not a fun place to be. With that in mind, protecting the people that must work down there is of utmost importance. Surprising to some, a variety of dangers are present in a crawlspace. Technicians need to be trained to protect themselveswhen working in confined spaces. As directed by OSHA, owners need to implement the training and safety programs to educate their workers of the possible hazards that come with working in these dark, small areas. Let's examine a couple of the key issues both owners and technicians need to evaluate before crawling under structures.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for employees to protect themselves in a water-damaged crawlspace. OSHA outlines that every technician that wears personal protective equipment must be trained in this area. We should never assume because a respirator has plastic on one side and straps on the other, that a technician understands how to properly wear a respirator. Restoration companies must establish written safety programs, including respirator use and maintenance, and a program to train employees how to don and doff their PPE. Technicians must be fit-tested prior to wearing a filtering or supplied-air breathing apparatus on the job. It is required that every employee go through a safety program before donning PPE. Technicians must also be trained in cleaning and maintaining their respirator. Most importantly, before technicians don a respirator, they must consult with a physician so as to evaluate the technician's respiratory health. How will someone with severe asthma perform work in a respirator? How about someone with a heart condition? Working in a respirator strains the respiratory system and breathing is labor intensive so that their heart rate can increase significantly. With the survival of the employee on the line, it is imperative to have employees checked out by a doctor and document that the employee has received the safety training you have established.
Anyone who has performed work in a crawlspace understands that these areas do not have a lot of space to move around. It is 'confined'. But how many of us know the true definition of confined space? When are we working in a confined space, does OHSA requires a permit? OSHA Regulations (Standard 1910.146) define confined space as any area that is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and has limited or restricted egress (entry/exit); and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Ever been in a crawlspace that could fit this criterion? Of course we have because the majority of crawlspaces are confined space. OSHA Standards specifically define "non-permit confined space" and "permit-required confined space". Understanding these definitions and complying with OSHA's directives are how employers and technicians protect themselves when working in questionable areas. Non-permit confined space is defined as a confined space that does not contain risk with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious harm. Permit-required confined space means a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:
- Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
- Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
- Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which sloped downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Think back to some of the crawlspaces you have worked in. It may be that some of those projects certainly contained one or more of the above criterion. Sewage filled crawlspaces may present a danger in the form of methane gases. Without proper airflow and ventilation to these areas, methane can potentially displace the oxygen our technicians need to survive. Filtration respirators do not provide protection in oxygen deprived environments. Gas monitors are available to determine, before entering, what oxygen levels and other gases are present.
Other hazards are present in a crawlspace. Risk of electrical shock is always a concern on any water loss, but even more so in a crawlspace. Have you ever run across an exposed live electrical wire dangling in the crawlspace? I have, and it was not a pleasant experience. When crawlspaces are flooded with standing water,the risk is amplified. Thorough inspection before beginning work in a crawlspace can help to diminish the risk of electrical shock. What is a technician to do when concerns such as these arise on a water loss, and the answers are not readily apparent? The answer is simple; call a professional electrician to check everything before entering the affected area(s). Often I remind my students that we are not trained as professional movers, so call in a professional to move a grand piano. There is no difference here, our specialty is drying wet structures, not determining if the three feet of standing water in the crawlspace is electrically charged. We are not licensed electricians, so call in the professional to make the right decisions before one is made that injures someone or worse, one that costs someone their life.
Along the same line, the IICRC S5000 directs technicians performing any water damage restoration to have all up-to-date immunizations. In particular those technicians working in crawlspaces need their tetanus shot. Crawlspaces present many objects that may puncture skin and cause serious infections. There is usually a lot of debris present in crawls as these areas are used for disposal by construction crews and storage areas for homeowners. Often we are unable to determine what is beneath vapor barrier, and sharp objects frequently manage to find their way through that plastic and stab us as we move about the crawlspace. This risk is further complicated by the presence ofsharp rocks and bricks that are common in many crawlspaces. Critters often make their homes under people's homes; rodents and insects are not generally happy when we disturbed their homes. The IICRC S500 states that even on fresh water losses, all technicians should be immunized with a Hepatitis B vaccination in addition to the tetanus shot. If the technicians choose not to be immunized, then written documentation of the employers immunization recommendation, and the employees signed refusal to comply with this directive should be included in the employee's file. At this point, the employer should decide if the risk of placing their non-immunized employee in these environments compromises the liability exposure of his company, and consider his options with this employee.
What is the best way to handle the dangers associated with crawlspace work? First and foremost, 'be responsible, and be safe'. Owners must value their employees by being earnestly concerned about their well-being. Set high standards for safety around the workplace and train your technicians to expect the same when on the job site. Many restorations find that their local laws require them to elect a safety officer that will ensure compliance with the company's safety plan. This person will oversee all training and be sure technicians are using a system to ensure their safety and the safety of the customer on each and every job. This individual may be responsible for outlining specific safety plans that are unique to a single restoration project at hand and draft up written outlines and directives for all to follow. Many States and Provinces require that employers hold training sessions several times throughout the year. During these sessions, bring in people that are trained in PPE (frequently, the sales rep who supplies you with your respirator cartridges) or confined space (you may try your local fire dept.). A licensed, qualified electrician may briefly explain how electricity may present risks that are most present on our water loss restoration projects. Always keep communication open among those in your company. Always work in teams when under a structure. No one knows what technicians might run into, so technicians should enter these environments with caution and a serious attitude. There is little to joke about when an individual's health and safety are on the line. Training, preparation and knowledge are all keys aspects to protecting technicians in water damage restoration effort.
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