HVACR Safety

Categories: Basics, HVAC, Refrigeration
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About Course

Safety for HVAC and Refrigeration Technicians

     Safety is an important topic in performing your job as a HVAC or Refrigeration technician. There are various aspects to this broad topic. A technician must wear the proper PPE, personal protective equipment, while performing his or her job. We must be aware of any safety concerns present when repairing, maintaining or installing a HVAC or Refrigeration system. Electrical and mechanical safety concerns are big aspects that a technician must be aware of. The safe and proper use of tools and equipment are also an important aspect. In this course, we will learn about the important safety protocols to implement and concerns to be aware of, while working as a HVAC or Refrigeration technician.

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What Will You Learn?

  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
  • Situational Awareness
  • Environmental Awareness
  • Electrical Awareness
  • Mechanical Awareness
  • Tools & Equipment
  • Soldering & Brazing
  • Refrigerant Handling & Storage
  • Personal Injury Awareness
  • Mental Awareness
  • Ladder Awareness
  • Fall Awareness
  • Temperature Awareness
  • Cell Phone Distractions
  • Operating Manuals
  • Safety Meetings
  • Lock-Out / Tag-Out
  • OSHA

Course Content

Introduction
Introduction to Safety Safety is an important topic in performing your job as a HVAC or Refrigeration technician. There are various aspects to this broad topic. A technician must wear the proper PPE, personal protective equipment, while performing his or her job. Technicians must be aware of any safety concerns present when repairing, maintaining or installing a HVAC or Refrigeration system. Electrical and mechanical safety concerns are big aspects that a technician must be aware of. The safe and proper use of tools and equipment are also an important aspect. In this course, we will learn about the important safety protocols to implement and concerns to be aware of, while working as a HVAC or Refrigeration technician. This section provides the student a syllabus and course overview. Please read the syllabus in detail to learn more about the expectations and objectives of this course. Read the course overview document to get an outline of what you will be learning.

  • Safety – Introduction

Safety – PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) The proper use of personal protective equipment is an important safety aspect a technician must utilize and implement. Wearing the proper work clothes is important when performing any job. Baggy or loose clothing can create potential safety hazards, if the clothing snags or gets caught on the equipment you are working on. This is especially important around moving parts, such as a fan blade or rotating assembly. Wearing long-sleeve shirts may be important when working in attics or crawling under crawl spaces. This will protect you from insulation and dirt that may be present in these locations. Wearing safety glasses, while working, is important to implement while performing your job as a technician. This is especially important while using power tools, such as a grinder. Wearing safety gloves, when working, is important to implement while performing your job as a technician. This is especially important while handling refrigerant, when attaching and removing hoses. Wearing the proper shoes or boots, while working, is important to implement while performing your job as a technician. The shoes or boots must be comfortable and contain good soles for the job environments, such as non-slip soles. Watch the following video about Personal Protective Equipment, then download and read the PPE brochure below the video.

Safety – SDS
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) A Material Safety Data Sheet or Safety Data Sheet is a document that provides detailed information about the hazards of a chemical product, including safe handling, storage, and disposal instructions. When working with chemicals, verify that you have this proper documentation available. Your company should keep these available, in case of any incidents or accidents related to the chemical in use. Watch the following video, then download the SDS Overview and Sample SDS documents below the video. Read these documents.

Safety – Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness Being aware of your surroundings is an important aspect of being safety-aware. Correct any safety concerns you may have before starting a job. If you encounter someone being unsafe, let them and your supervisor know of your concerns. Someone else’s unsafe work practices can endanger you or somebody else, so it is important to address these concerns. Watch the following video.

Safety – Environmental Awareness
Being aware of the environment you are working in, is important to understand. Working in environments with dust and smoke or other factors may require you to use a properly-rated respirator and other PPE. Working in high-voltage areas may require you to utilize special and extra PPE. Above normal sound levels may require additional hearing protection PPE. Working on electrical circuits is dangerous around wet or damp environments. Consider all the safety concerns present and talk to your company’s supervisor and safety man about these concerns.

Safety – Electrical Awareness
Working on electrical circuits is a very dangerous safety concern. Utilize the lock-out tag-out procedure while performing any electrical work. Only use insulated hand tools on electrical circuits. Double-check for voltage present before performing any work. It is not advised to work on live circuits. Utilize the proper PPE and do not wear any metal jewelry, while working on live circuits. Verify that the electrical circuit you intend to work on is well-grounded. Under no conditions is a grounding prong or ground wire to be cut off or removed. The standard accepted color coding for a ground wire is green. Ground wire leads are not to be used as current carrying conductors. If the equipment you are working on has components, such as capacitors, that can store a charge – be aware of the danger present. If you need to test a capacitor, place it in a protective case, and then discharge it through a properly rated resistor connected between the terminals. Working on electrical circuits is dangerous around wet or damp environments. Consider all the safety concerns present and talk to your company’s supervisor and safety man about these concerns. If you encounter someone being electrocuted, a. Turn the equipment off. b. Call emergency services immediately. c. Use an object, such as a wooden stick, that is non-conductive to separate the person from the equipment.

Safety – Mechanical Awareness
Working on a system that utilizes mechanical means can create a dangerous work environment when the system is operational. These systems have fan blades and other rotating parts that can injure or kill a technician. Using the lock-out tag-out system helps prevents these dangers. Make sure all safety devices, such as guards, are installed and properly working.

Safety – Tools & Equipment
The proper use of tools and equipment is an important safety aspect a technician must be aware of and implement. Using the correct tool for the job at hand is important. Using the incorrect tool can result in slippage and cause injury to the technician. One way to avoid this is to properly stock your tool bag or toolbox with all the tools that are required for a HVAC or Refrigeration technician. Plan ahead and verify you have the proper tools and any specialty tools required to perform the job you need to complete. Keep your tools clean and properly maintained. Replace any damaged or worn tools to prevent accident or injury. Use the proper PPE when working with tools or equipment. For example, using a grinder without safety glasses, ear plugs and work gloves, can create a dangerous workspace for you. The use of dull blades or bits in tools and equipment can increase the risk for danger. This can cause you to work harder and apply more pressure than usual, which can lead to serious injury. If you are using any tools or equipment that can create sparks or an open flame, have a fire extinguisher within reach or a fire safety watchperson present. Verify that any power tools or extensions cords do not have any frayed or damaged electrical cords. When working with power tools or equipment, read the user’s manual and learn how to properly and safely use the tool or equipment.

Safety – Soldering & Brazing
Soldering and brazing tubing or piping can create numerous safety concerns. Verify that no flammable materials are nearby. Wear the proper PPE, such as gloves and safety glasses. Have a fire extinguisher nearby and handy or fire safety watchperson observing. Verify that there is no pressure contained within the piping you are soldering or brazing. This may sound silly, but I have seen this before at a technical training school. Acetylene is a highly flammable gas, especially when mixed with oxygen. Therefore, safety glasses should always be worn when brazing. Never point the torch (lit or unlit) toward an open flame or source of sparks. Light the torch only with a sparker - do not use matches or a lighter. Only solder or braze in well ventilated areas. Do not breathe any of the fumes. Keep fumes away from your eyes and skin.

Safety – Refrigerant Storage & Handling
Never fill refrigerant or recovery cylinders over 80% of capacity. With a temperature increase, hydrostatic pressure may cause the overfilled cylinder to release refrigerant into the surrounding environment. Refrigerant tanks come installed with burst disks or pressure-relief valves. The release of refrigerant can be dangerous because the refrigerant can deplete the surrounding oxygen and it usually lays low to the ground. Always wear gloves and safety glasses when working with refrigerants. Removing manifold gauge hoses without gloves on can cause severe refrigerant burns. When transporting refrigerant cylinders in your service vehicle, ensure that cylinders are secure and locked in place. For service vehicles, under the “materials of trade” it is business as usual. The same restrictions are in place for 440 pounds, regardless of the hazard. Federally, there are no placards required for service vehicles. When it comes to storage, currently cylinders can be stored in the horizontal or upright position.

Safety – Personal Injury Awareness
Always use leg muscles when lifting objects, never the back muscles. A hoist is recommended for lifting anything weighing over 35 lb. (16 kg). Make certain the work area is free from oil or water on the floor, to prevent slips or falls.

Safety – Mental Awareness
Mental Awareness is important while at work. Technicians should be well-rested for the work day. Being tired can cause mental exhaustion, which can create a dangerous work environment for you and others. A technician should not use prescribed medication until they know how the medication can affect themselves. Technicians should refrain from illegal drugs and alcohol. These substances can slow your response times and can create a dangerous work environment for you and others.

Safety – Ladder Awareness
A ladder must exceed 3 feet of the surface that you intend to reach. A ladder must maintain a 4:1 rise-to-run ratio. In other words, the base of the ladder should be positioned 1 foot away from the structure each time it extends four feet. The worker must follow the three-point rule, ensuring that either both legs and one hand or both hands and one leg are used to climb. Therefore, the employee must not carry buckets or other tools when moving up the ladder.

Safety – Fall Awareness
According to OSHA’s ruling, employers that fall under “General Industry” must provide their employees with fall protection when working above 4 feet or 1.2 m in meters. In the construction industry, fall protection is required when the height or fall is over 2.0 m or 6 feet.

Safety – Temperature Awareness
Working in extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot, can cause serious safety concerns. If you are working in hot temperatures, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and take extra breaks. If you are working in cold temperatures, be sure to be dressed properly and pay close attention to any numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes as this may be as cause for concern.

Safety – Cell Phone Distraction
Cell phones have become important to our daily lives. These devices can be helpful in many ways, but can always become a safety concern as a distraction to your job awareness. If you plan on using your cell phone while on the job, be sure you are not putting yourself or others in danger by causing a distraction to your work.

Safety – Operating Manuals
Operating Manuals of the system or equipment you are working on are a vital resource of the safety precautions. These manuals address any safety concerns that may be present when working on the system or equipment.

Safety – Meetings
Most companies have safety meetings at least monthly to discuss safety concerns and provide learning about different safety topics. It is vital to participate in these meetings to educate yourself and address any concerns, thought or suggestions you may have.

Safety – Lock-Out / Tag-Out
Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) is a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous equipment is properly shut off and cannot be restarted during maintenance or repair work. It involves isolating energy sources, locking them, and tagging them to prevent accidental activation, protecting workers from potential hazards.

Safety – OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) assures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. OSHA standards are sets of guidelines and requirements enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to minimize health and safety risks in workplaces. They regulate companies to maintain safe and healthy working conditions and provide suitable training and assistance to their employees before doing their jobs. OSHA standards are also known as OSHA regulations or OSHA requirements because they are stipulated in Part 1910 Title 29 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). An OSHA safety standard is a list of material and equipment requirements along with guidelines and instructions for employers to minimize employee risk in the performance of work. Adherence to OSHA standards protects workers from fatal hazards and health risks. It is organized into four major industries, specifically OSHA standards for construction and general industry, maritime, and agriculture. Watch the following video about Personal Protective Equipment, then download and read the PPE brochure below the video.

Safety – Conclusion
The term safety is a broad topic with new guidance being created due to industry changes. For example, when new technologies or refrigerants are created – this can cause additional safety concerns that may need to be addressed.

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