Stay Safe
I’m certain every experienced home inspector has learned
several fundamental rules for personal safety, and some of those rules have been learned the hard way. Sharing what we’ve learned is one way we can contribute to the well-being of fellow inspectors.
Dramatic lesson
For me, the most dramatic lessons have been related to electrical service panels. On two occasions I’ve removed panel covers while running the screws through the insulation on the service entrance conductors resulting in explosions great enough to dim the lights in the neighborhood, and to blow holes through the service box. I’ve had sparks in my face and pin holes burned in my shirt, but have missed serious injury.
I’ve learned from those experiences that handling a panel is a solo act, and I reject quickly the helpful hand of the client eager to hold the panel cover in place. When shopping for shoes to be worn to inspections, rubber soles are mandatory. I select screwdrivers with broad insulated grips, and I clear objects from my path of retreat.
As I do my preliminary scan of the house, I check to see that grounding and bonding connections are secure before I reach the panel cover.
Pesky pesticides
I work in an area with crawl space homes dating from the 1950s. Any evidence of white dust deposits on a vapor barrier drive me out of the crawl space instantly, regardless of my respirator. Pesticides are admitted through all of our mucous membranes and tend to cumulate throughout our career. Many of the early chemicals such as chlordane and DDT do not break down. I steer away from any dust or odors I suspect could be pesticides.
Explosive events
Those old boilers and furnaces with the heavy cast iron doors that open to expose large refractories can be dangerous to open if gas or oil ignites as the door is opened allowing a perfect fuel air mixture. Some call this accumulation of fuel and the explosion a delayed ignition. Delayed ignition seems to me to be politically correct language describing an explosive event that can remove the eyebrows in an instant. I always stand aside as I open these refractory doors.
So many ways to fall
Those attic pull down stair systems to permit easy access can be convenient for the family and for the inspector. I handle myself carefully as I ascend to the top and look carefully to see a reliable screw pattern that I suspect can support my weight. I’m aware of two ASHI members who have suffered injury while using pull down stairs.
In my town, many new homes have crawl space access lids placed in traffic areas where guests and the inspector can miss-step and readily break a leg. I go out of my way in those instances to place my tool bag or an adjacent item in the direction of travel such that a fall is not likely. Many years ago a real estate professional was injured in my town, and all of us have become more careful.
The danger posed using a ladder to access a roof is ever present. I’ve learned to take the time to be certain the ladder extends at least two feet above the gutter line, and that the angle of assent is optimum. Getting on and off the top of a ladder is always the riskiest part of accessing the roof, and attention to ladder detail can be time consuming. The risk of a career-ending fall is too great not to develop good ladder discipline.
I’m often amused at how dangerous a real estate professional can be to the busy home inspector. I’m sure many of us have exited the rear glass slider to check the water pressure only to return through that same glass slider. The inspector returns to find that the agent has closed and locked the slider such that the inspector gazing toward the gutter above walks directly into the closed sliding glass door with a thump. I’ve walked into closed sliders enough that I expect them to be closed and locked behind me.
Listen to inner voice
It may be true that after many years I recognized my work style, my patterns and habits, my tendencies to put myself in places where I tend to get hurt. If that’s true I can learn to be alert as I move and perhaps avoid those situations that are going to cause problems. That recognition of work style combined with listening to the inner voice that tells me the ladder set is not safe, and my escape route is not clear, or my
technique is sloppy will go a long way to keeping me safe. I hope we all are alert to practicing home inspection in a way that keeps us healthy.
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