Working In Hot Attics

Also remember to watch your step.

Working in hot attics.

Protecting workers from falls while working in attics can be challenging for some employers. Think about how often dew forms on your grass. Alternatively install passive vents such as gable soffit and ridge vents which are openings in the roof that allow hot air to escape. During hot weather start working early as attics heat up as the day moves on.

This fact sheet highlights some of the hazards of attic work and details some practical methods that employers can use to protect those who work in attics. Hang pencil and paper next to the thermometer and record the outdoor and attic temperatures. In these climates hot attic spaces are eliminated by installing a thermal barrier along the roof line instead of the attic floor. To ensure that the attic fan is working properly you need to make sure that your attic is sealed up tight where it touches the ceiling of the top floor.

We all have a duty to protect ourselves and our employees. The fall protection methods in this fact sheet may not be suitable in all situations. Drink plenty of water and use an osha approved particulate respirator or double strap dust mask to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances. Eliminate the hazard if you can.

Be sure that the access door is well fitted and doesn t let air escape around the edges. Attics crawlspaces have been covered by osha for 20 years. Air circulation alone will not keep you safe. Deal with it if you can t.

Working in a hot attic can lead to heat exhaustion dehydration and heat stroke if you do not take the necessary precautions to remain cool. One of the main reasons for this is how hot an attic can get not only during the summer months but also throughout the year. Install electric ventilators and attic fans which remove hot air from an attic. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under.

They have thermostats that turn the fan on at a recommended preset temperature of 100 110 degrees. Recently we restarted our air sealing insulation articles again and in the most recent article on hot roofs we mentioned that now is a good time to work in your attic at least if you live in the south. Cool air in hot air out attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Hang an outdoor thermometer in your attic making sure its range reaches at least 130 degrees fahrenheit.

The recent osha action clarifies the standard. Attic fans push out the hot air and pull in the cool air from the vents installed on your roof.