Working In Hot Attics

Deal with it if you can t.

Working in hot attics.

Take precautions to avoid a dangerous working environment in the attic. 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. Attics crawlspaces have been covered by osha for 20 years. 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. Think about how often dew forms on your grass. 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. Also remember to watch your step.

We all have a duty to protect ourselves and our employees. Alternatively install passive vents such as gable soffit and ridge vents which are openings in the roof that allow hot air to escape. In these climates hot attic spaces are eliminated by installing a thermal barrier along the roof line instead of the attic floor. Evaluate every worksite prior to doing any work.

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. During hot weather start working early as attics heat up as the day moves on. Protecting workers from falls while working in attics can be challenging for some employers. Cool air in hot air out attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.

Install electric ventilators and attic fans which remove hot air from an attic. Hang an outdoor thermometer in your attic making sure its range reaches at least 130 degrees fahrenheit. Attic fans push out the hot air and pull in the cool air from the vents installed on your roof. The fall protection methods in this fact sheet may not be suitable in all situations.

Eliminate the hazard if you can. Air circulation alone will not keep you safe. In warmer climates you don t need to worry about condensation. Drink plenty of water and use an osha approved particulate respirator or double strap dust mask to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances.

They have thermostats that turn the fan on at a recommended preset temperature of 100 110 degrees. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under.