Working as an HVAC technician is an exciting, engaging career, but it has its fair share of risks. For commercial HVAC technicians, who specialize in advanced equipment, hazards are an inevitable — but avoidable — part of their job.
Following HVAC safety tips can keep technicians safe, but before they can choose the best preventative measures, they must know the most common risks that they’re likely to face on a regular basis.
This article will outline ways HVAC technicians can protect themselves, as well as ways companies can ensure their workers are always safe and taken care of when they’re hard at work.
We’ll begin by looking at some of the biggest risks commercial HVAC technicians experience.
5 Common Commercial HVAC Safety Risks
Commercial HVAC safety hazards occur on the ground and on rooftops. Each type of risk requires unique preventative steps to ensure that workers always stay safe. In addition to choosing the right gear and equipment, technicians must always follow proper protocol and remember their training.
Below are the five most common safety risks that commercial HVAC techs face on the job.
Electrical Hazards
Faulty wiring and live currents can cause life-threatening injuries. Whenever you perform jobs that require electrical work, you should always work with completely dry hands, gloves, and clothing. If there is any liquid around your electricity whatsoever, make sure it is completely dry before performing any work. This includes wet floors and walls.
You should also turn off power to every circuit before doing any work. Make sure that you use proper lockout and tagging procedures to ensure no one turns on the power while you’re performing your job.
It’s also a good idea to test circuits with a properly rated meter before working, so you can check whether it’s still energized.
Chemical Exposure
Exhaust, refrigerants, and gasses are extremely common chemicals that can cause illness immediately or over a period of time. It’s not uncommon for technicians to forget that while many chemicals and refrigerants are deemed safe to use, they become dangerous when exposed to heat. As a result, many technicians don’t wear proper protective gear, and they risk significant health threats on the job.
You should always use proper HVAC safety equipment when handling chemicals or working in environments where exposure is a risk. These include safety googles, masks, protective boots, and gloves.
Rooftop Safety Hazards
Rooftop HVAC risks include poor roofing conditions, ladder malfunctions, and even material transfers. When moving materials and tools to and from a property’s roof, HVAC technicians must ensure that everything is secured using appropriate equipment.
Using cranes, work forklifts, and freight elevators are the best methods of transporting materials to and from rooftops. Workers should also always use appropriate measures for ascending and descending, and never operate on the roof without safety gear.
Wearing tool belts helps prevent technicians from ever climbing a ladder with their hands full. When it comes to rooftop HVAC safety, multitasking is never a good idea. The worker should always know exactly what they need to do and have a clear course charted out to achieve their goal. Following safety procedures, step by step, helps prevent accidents and other damages.
Respiratory Health Risks
In addition to chemical exposure, there are a variety of respiratory threats that commercial HVAC workers can face on the job. For example, they could experience carbon monoxide poisoning, inhale mold spores, or encounter harmful airborne bacteria that breeds and spreads throughout HVAC systems.
The best way to minimize these risks is always encouraging clients to book regular HVAC cleanings and routine maintenance. Although you, as a technician, can’t ever guarantee the quality of a system you’ll encounter, you can always perform safety checks on older or unfamiliar systems.
Wearing some preventative safety gear, such as an N95 mask, and checking for signs of carbon monoxide when working with gas, can help keep you safe.
Extreme Weather Hazards
Whether it’s making an emergency heater repair in a blizzard, or trying to service an air conditioner in the middle of summer, challenging weather can pose serious health risks to technicians.
Make sure that you are always wearing appropriate clothing for the temperature; you must also stay hydrated, and take frequent breaks indoors to avoid heat exhaustion or hypothermia.
Owners of HVAC companies must also consider how tool demands and workers’ needs might change depending on the weather, and adjust accordingly.
Commercial HVAC Safety Tips
The best way to avoid HVAC safety hazards is to stay up-to-date on all the latest safety procedures and proper protocols.
Here are some standard HVAC safety tips commercial technicians can follow to protect themselves.
Always Using the Right Tools for the Job
With experience, professionals often become so comfortable with their work that they are able to use shortcuts to perform their responsibilities faster. They might learn that one tool can work in multiple situations, and they’ll opt to use it when another one is actually better suited for the task.
However, each tool has a designated purpose, and it’s best to always follow your training. Choose the right tools and equipment designed for every situation.
Employers should ensure that technicians can always access what they need. Organization and preparation are essential to HVAC safety.
Wear HVAC PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can keep HVAC technicians safe from chemical harm, bacteria, and workplace hazards. Choosing the right safety gear will help you stay safe no matter what job you’re preforming.
HVAC PPE recommendations:
- Steel-toed protective work boots
- Heavy duty electrical safety gloves
- Safety googles
- N95 respirators
- Earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs
Work Thoroughly, Not Quickly
Although you may want to use a shortcut to reduce time spent on a task, it can be a costly mistake if something goes wrong. Technicians are paid to do their jobs well; choosing the comprehensive approach protects you, and delivers the best results to your clients.
In everything you do, be methodical. Always perform jobs “by the book”, and double-check your work.
We hope that these HVAC safety tips will help you stay safer on the job. Just by learning about hazards and common mistakes, you can become more aware of your own risks, and take the proper steps to prevent them.
