WEATHERIZATION ENERGY AUDITOR SINGLE FAMILY

Safe Work Practices

WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012

1 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Learning Objectives
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

By attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe basic workplace safety requirements for energy auditors.
• Explain the purpose of Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) regulations.
• Identify where to find guidelines for working with lead, mold, and
asbestos.
• Describe which homes require lead-safe weatherization practices
and certified renovators.
• Define what a materials safety data sheet (MSDS) is and why it is
important to communicate hazards.
• Explain the function and importance of using ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) equipment.
• Identify personal protective equipment (PPE) for use by auditors.
2 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Program Requirements
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Auditors must possess a working knowledge of:

•Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance

Program regulations and policy.
•Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for
asbestos, lead, mold, and other health hazards.
•Material safety data sheets (MSDS).
•Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) standards.

3 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 OSHA Standards
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Standards

•Ladder safety
•Fall protection
•Personal protective equipment (PPE)
•Respiratory protection
•Motor vehicles
•Power-operated hand tools
•Fire prevention
•Permit-required confined spaces
•Other worker-related OSHA standards
4 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Energy Auditor Safety Procedures
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Auditors must demonstrate the ability to:

• Safely use basic hand and power tools.
• Identify serious mold or other unsanitary conditions.
• Assess and communicate work area safety hazards.
o High ambient carbon monoxide levels
o Electrical hazards
o Structural hazards

5 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 In Attics
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Photos courtesy of the US Department of Energy

• Protective suit
• Respirator
• Gloves
• Steel toe boots
6 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 How Much Mold Is OK?
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Photos courtesy of the US Department of Energy

7 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Material Safety Data Sheets
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

8 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 MSDS Requirements
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

MSDS generally require the

following information:
• Product and contact information of
the manufacturer
• Hazard ingredients/identifying
information
• Fire and explosion hazard data
• Reactivity data
• Health hazard data
• Emergency and first aid
procedures
• Personal protective equipment Photo courtesy of the US Department of Energy

(PPE)

9 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 CO Exposure Monitoring
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

The National Institute for

Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) has
established a recommended
exposure limit (REL) for
carbon monoxide of 35 ppm.

BW Honeywell Gas Alert Clip

Extreme CO Monitor

Image courtesy of BW Honeywell

10 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Live Wire Testing
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Live
Live wire
wire tester.
tester. Especially
Especially
useful
useful for
for determining
determining ifif knob
knob
and
and tube
tube wiring
wiring is
is still
still live.
live.

Photos courtesy of the US Department of Energy

11 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Ground Fault Circuit Interruption
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

This could save your life.

Photo courtesy of www.health.howstuffworks.com. Photo courtesy of Coleman Cable, Inc.

12 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Lind Equipment

Garvin Industries

Always put a GFCI between

yourself and a power tool.
Photos courtesy of Garvin Industries and Lind Equipment

13 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Personal Protective Equipment
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

• Ensure you have the

proper gear: safety
glasses, hearing
protection, protective
clothing, and respirators.
• Ensure you have the
proper fit: fit test for
respirators.
• Refer to the MSDS if in
doubt about what gear you
need.
Photo courtesy of Environmental Health & Safety, Univ. of VA

Respirators should meet or exceed MSDS

requirements and be assessed based on
OSHA’s fit test guidelines.
14 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Fall Protection
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Required by OSHA where

workers could fall at least 6
ft. (or 10 ft. if working on
scaffolding).
Options include:
•Personal Fall Arrest
System (PFAS)
•Safety netting
•Guardrails/covers

Image courtesy of Kentuckiana Industrial Safety Training

A PFAS is often the most practical fall

protection for weatherization work.
15 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Ladders
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

• Use ladders as they were

designed.
• Keep bottom free of
obstructions and slip
hazards.
• Position bottom ¼ of the
working height away from
surface.
• If accessing upper level,
ladder must extend 3 ft.
above that level.

Photo courtesy of blog.safesourcing.com

One example of what not to do!

16 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov
 Safe Work Practices Exercise
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

Safe Work Practices

(45 minutes)

17 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov

 Summary
SAFE WORK PRACTICES

• OSHA regulations are designed to keep auditors and

workers safe.
• Following EPA guidelines when dealing with
hazardous materials protects the health of clients,
workers, and their families.
• Auditors should be aware of MSDS when specifying
chemical products for use by weatherization
technicians.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment to reduce risk
of injury.

18 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – December 2012 eere.energy.gov