Hey John. Hi Mike. I just sent you an email about a new site.
I just got the email right now.
Oh good.
It's got all the details for the location. Right. It's a single-family home.
So what kind of damage is it? Fire took off the top floor. Do you have time to go there today?
As a contractor, safety officer, or adjuster, it's critical to gather as much information as possible about the site
before you arrive.
This information allows you to prepare as best you can for any hazards that may be present at the jobsite.
Okay.
Well, I'll have a look at the email, and I'll get back with any questions.
The engineer has cleared the building, but let me know if you need anything else.
Thanks.
Upon receiving the call, it's important
to thoroughly review all of the information in order to determine the correct PPE needed for the inspection.
You will need answers to questions, such as: What type of claim is it?
Is it a fire or flood?
The age and type of building?
Commercial or residential?
Have the services been disconnected?
Is the building structurally sound for safe entry?
And have any hazardous materials been identified?
What you take with you will be based on the information you have received along with the standard equipment in your vehicle.
When you arrive on site,
examine the exterior and decide if the property is safe to enter and the information you received is accurate.
If not, contact the office for further instructions.
If the property is as described,
conduct your initial hazard assessment.
This will include filling out your site safety assessment form.
After the external assessment is finished, and you determine it is safe to enter,
call in and notify the dispatch that you are beginning your internal inspection,
noting the time.
Hey John, it's Mike. Hey, are you at the site? Yeah, I'm going to get suited up and enter the house.
Okay sounds good. Well, It's 2:30 now, so I'll check back in an hour. Great, thanks for checking in. Okay.
You now need to put on your PPE before you begin your interior investigation.
Donning
How you put on — or don — your personal protective equipment is just as important as the equipment itself.
The first step when donning your PPE
is to set up in an area where you can get yourself equipped, such as the back of your vehicle.
Laying out the equipment and arranging it so it is easily accessible is very helpful.
Pull on your coveralls.
Be sure you have the right size.
Coveralls that are too small may rip and leave you unprotected.
Whatever size you wear may alter by season. For example, you'll want to leave room for warm clothes underneath during winter months.
If the coveralls are too large, the excess fabric can snag and rip the suit.
It's a good idea to prepare strips of tape to wrap around your wrists and ankle cuffs,
and to have these prepared and ready for use when you need them.
It's also a good idea to fold over the ends of each strip in order to create non-stick areas for handling.
Sit or lean while putting on your boots to avoid falling.
Pull the coveralls over your boots and tape the coverall ankle cuffs to the boots,
ensuring a tight seal.
Keep the ends of the tape folded over and easily accessible.
Inspect your respirator prior to use and clean it off if necessary.
Annual fit testing is required for all respirators.
Connect the strap at the back, and then affix the mask to your face,
pulling the head strap up onto the upper back of your head.
Use the respirator — for which you have been fit tested — as well as the appropriate cartridges for the hazard.
Pull the straps until the mask fits snug to your face.
Doing a positive negative fit check is crucial.
In order to do this, cover the exhalation vent of your mask and breathe out gently.
This should cause the mask to expand.
Next, do the negative check and put both palms over the intake vents on the sides of your filters
and breathe in.
The mask should collapse onto your face.
The purpose of the check is to ensure the mask seals tightly to your face.
If air leaks around the seal during these checks, you need to tighten your respirator straps and start the steps again from the beginning.
Do this until you have a perfect seal on your respirator.
Once your mask is on and secure, it's time to put on your gloves.
Put the first pair of gloves on under the cuffs of your coveralls.
Put the second pair of gloves on over the previous ones and pull them over the cuffs of your coveralls.
Now place a strip of tape around your wrist, attaching the cuff to the outer glove.
Don't apply the tape too tightly; this will make removal easier.
However, be sure to complete the seal by giving it a gentle squeeze with your other hand.
Next, put on your safety glasses or goggles, and place the hood of your coveralls over your head,
keeping your hair inside the hood.
Zip your coveralls all the way up and make sure the collar is secure.
Finally, put your hard hat on over your hood and secure the chinstrap.
You will need to bring your clipboard, a writing utensil, and a flashlight or headlamp with you when you enter the building.
Doffing: Once your inspection is complete, it's time to take off and dispose of your PPE.
Again, it's a good idea to set up an area where you can work.
Place two bags nearby: one for disposal items and one for items to be decontaminated.
Remove your hard hat and place it in the decontamination bag.
Next, remove your safety glasses and place them in the decontamination bag.
Gently pull your hood back away from your face, unzip your coveralls, and remove only one shoulder.
Pull your arm out of the coverall sleeve, allowing it to invert as you do so.
Repeat the process with the other shoulder, arm, and hand.
The outer gloves will come off with the suit.
Pull your hand out. You should still have your inner glove on.
You may now remove your respirator.
Do so by pulling the upper strap forward off your head, releasing the respirator.
Then unclip the back strap.
Place strips of tape over the intakes of your respirator cartridges,
pressing firmly to seal the intake vents.
This will prevent any particulates or contaminants from falling out of the filter.
Place your respirator into the decontamination bag.
Next, remove the tape from around your boots, being careful not to let the sticky side touch your gloves.
It may rip the glove.
Place these strips of tape in the disposal bag.
Now roll the pant legs of your coveralls down past the top of your boots and step out of your boots.
Remove the coveralls from the boots, bundling them together and placing them in the disposal bag.
Place the boots into the decontamination bag.
Tie the decontamination bag off with your inner gloves still on.
Finally, remove one of your inner gloves by pinching the inner cuff near the base of your palm.
Pull the glove off that hand,
allowing it to turn inside-out,
and without letting go,
use the fingers of that glove to protect you as you pinch the other glove close to your palm.
As you pulled the second glove off,
keep a hold of the first glove, and pull it inside the second glove.
Place the inner gloves in the disposal bag.
Now that you have removed all of your personal protective equipment and placed them in the appropriate bags,
send one bag for disposal and the other for decontamination.
Proper donning and doffing techniques are crucial in ensuring you are not exposed in the workplace.
For more information, go to worksafebc.com