CH 2 Safety AUGUST 25 DANGERS Electricity=dealt with daily Freon= burns or lack of oxygen Falls= death or injury Driving= dealt with daily OSHA -Occupational Safety and Health Act -National law covering workplace safety -Requirement for Personal safety and equipment Hazard -A potential for harm -Identifying,eliminating,and minimizing hazards ensures safety on the job -OSHA provides plans for hazard assessment -Technicians should evaluate each job site Electrical Hazards -Shocks,burns,explosions and electrocutions -may be difficult to identifying -use grounded power tools and GFCI outlets [outlets that switches off power] tied up= your body is locked up by electricity Ground wire = Green or bare Lockout/tagout[LOTO] -LO= the practice of locking a mechanism or electrical switch in the open position -TO= the practice of placing a tag on a mechanism to inform others of service work in progress -LOTO= locking a mechanism open and tagging it Safety Notes 1-do not become a part of the electrical circuit Safety note in book pg22 2-never stand in wet or damp areas when checking live connections -wear shoes with insulated soles and heels -note signs requiring PPE, such as eye wear or foot wear 3-do not wear jewelry when working on live electric circuits -it will conduct electricity, and can cause shock or burn Fire Hazards -HVACR works may involve flammable or combustible material -know how and when to use the different fie extinguishers -minimize fire hazards before starting a job -exercise caution when brazing or working on or near burners Safety Notes 4- never use water on electrical fires Type of fires pg 25 fig 2-5 A= ordinary combustibles B= liquid fires C=electrical fires D= combustible metals Safety Notes 5-when using a torch near combustible materials or wood or finished surfaces, use a heat shield 6- do not braze or weld in an enclosed, non-ventilated areas -a welding or brazing torch consuming oxygen could cause oxygen levels to fall too low Temperature Hazards -dress appropriately for indoors and outdoors work -layer and waterproof boots in the winter -dress lightly, drink plenty of water, and wear sunscreen in the heat of the sun -watch for sign of heat related illness and hypothermia -ducts,hydroponic piping, and refrigerant tubing can be cold or hot hazards -on each job know what temperature to expect -a first aid and burn kit should have supplies to treat burns and frostbite Safety Notes 7-technicians should be alert of wind chill and temperature Pressure Hazards -encountered in various forms -refrigerant cylinders, HVACR systems, gas cylinders, boilers, various tanks frequently inspect pressure vessels - wear eye protection when near pressure vessels Refrigerant cylinder do not fill cylinder =80% review SDS safety sheet exercise caution in confined spaces ensure that a pressure relief device is installed Safety Notes 8- never heat a refrigerant cylinder with a flame high temperature in confined volume means higher presser 9-exercise caution when using or handling fluoridated refrigerant in a confined space,as it can displace oxygen Other pressurized cylinders store cylinders upright transport carefully nitrogen is commonly used when brazing and leak testing -use a regulator never use oil on oxygen keep oxygen and it's hoses free of oil maintain safe working pressures with all gases used Safety Note 10 oxygen or any combustible gas should never be used to test for pressure or leaks these gases may react explosively with oils as hazards Refrigerants can be flammable and toxic Refrigerants vapor may be heavier than air -can accumulate and displace oxygen -ensure proper ventilation to avoid asphyxiation -use stationary refrigerant detectors Refrigerants class Fig 2-11 Toxicity class A= no evidence of toxicity below 400 ppm class B= evidence of toxicity below 400 ppm Flammability class 1= refrigerant that will not propagate a flame under normal conditions in open air class 2= refrigerant may propagate a flame under certain conditions in open air class 3= highly flammable Safety Notes 11 ensure proper ventilation prior to beginning a job 12 use fans to add fresh air to confined space Chemical hazards chemicals used for cleaning,lubrication,water treatment,leak detection review product SDS -note exposure and inhalation risks -use appropriate PPE -prepare for any recommended first aid treatments Safety notes -it is technicians responsibility to be knowledgeable of the SDS for chemicals being used GHS and HCS -globally harmonized system [GHS] -a standardized system for labeling chemicals using symbols, signal words and hazard statements -hazard pictograms convey health, physical, and environmental hazard information -signal words indicate the level of hazard severity hazard statements are standard phrases that describe the nature of a hazard Hazard communication standard [HCS] requires that safety data sheet [SDS] communicates the hazard of a chemical product Safety notes -employers must ensure that SDS are accessible to employees Breathing hazards -refrigerants, dust, asbestos, adhesives, and solvent -maintain continuous ventilation when using resins or adhesives use a respirator to filter out dust use a ventilation system with a HEPA filter for asbestos work Safety notes -use a fan when brazing in enclosed space to circulate air technician's head should remain below rising fumes Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] -worn to minimize exposure to health and physical hazard head protection hard hat hearing protection earplugs or earmuffs eye protection safety glasses, goggles, face shields Respiratory protection -used when existing ventilation is not enough air-purifying respirator -passively removes dust and chemicals from the air supplied- air respiratory -supplies air Protection clothing -different gloves for different work -leather to avoid cuts, abrasions and some heat -aluminized protection against heat and cold -aramid fiber protection against heat, cold and cuts - synthetic protection against, heat cold, cuts, and some diluted acids fabric protection against dirt, slivers, abrasions coated fabric protection against cuts Safe work practice -lifting use hand truck/dully and proper methods -ladders/scaffolding should be in good condition, set up safely and used properly -fall protection safety harness and anchored lanyard Safety notes never use a damaged or broken ladder never place a ladder on of scaffolding when setting up stepladder or extension ladder be aware of power lines before climbing scaffolding, ensure that proper clearance from power lines can be maintained Safe work [cont.] -confined space an area close off from a larger space but large enough for a person to enter and perform work -restricted movement and limited airflow -if possible post a safety watch -hand and power tools -maintain all tools according to recommendations -repair or replace as necessary -use all tools properly -be mindful of electrical ground Safety note carbon monoxide [CO] may build up in confined space Safe work [cont.] first aid -always know where a kit is located -first minutes after an accident are critical safety certifications - train workers to recognize, avoid and prevent hazards -10 hour and 30 hour classes are popular Safety note -never operate an electric tool with ground prong missing
