Weatherization Operations Plan and Policy

PURPOSE STATEMENT

This guide was developed to help Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) Weatherization personnel perform their assigned duties to the best of their ability within the guidelines of the Utah State Weatherization Assistance Program. The main purpose of the BRAG Weatherization program is to reduce the energy burden of low-income people by making improvements to their homes that reduce their home energy consumption. In no way does this document supersede the BRAG Personnel Policy.

BRAG Weatherization Personnel will:

  • Conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is respectful and considerate of clients, supervisors and all other staff.
  • Dress in a professional manner. No tank tops, torn or tattered clothing, open-toed shoes or excessive jewelry will be worn on the job by field staff the exception being medical ID and wedding bands.
  • Perform work to the best of their ability using good workmanship.
  • Commit themselves to safety.
  • Maintain all tools and equipment and keep them in good working.
  • Observe all state and federal regulations related to health and safety.
  • Report all accidents immediately to the immediate supervisor and comply with the established guidelines as outlined in the BRAG Policy & Procedures manual.
  • Seek medical attention when necessary.

Section A: Health and Safety

A. Responsibilities

A.1: Employee Responsibilities

A.1.a. Follow all safety rules

A.1.b. Wear and take care of and maintain personal protective equipment

A.1.c. Make sure all safety features for tools and equipment are functioning properly

A.1.d. Don’t let your work put another worker in danger

A.1.e. Replace damaged or dull hand tools immediately and Avoid horseplay, practical jokes, or other activities that create a hazard

A.1.f. Don’t use drugs or alcohol on the job

A.1.g. Report any unsafe work practice and any injury or accident to your supervisor

A.1.h. Keep the workplace free from hazards

Al.2: Employer Responsibilities

A.2.a. Inform employees of how to protect themselves against hazards that cannot be controlled

A.2.b. Conduct regular job site safety inspections

A.2.c. Have someone trained in first aid on site if you have no emergency response service nearby

A.2.d. Supply employees with necessary PPE as required by OSHA Standard- 29CRF and Utah Weatherization Assistance Program Guidelines.

      1. Eye, hand, hearing, fall, respiratory, head and electrical protective equipment will be paid for in full by BRAG
      2. An allowance of $100 will be allowed for safety toe insulated boots and $75 for insulated bibs/pants.
      3. BRAG Weatherization will provide a logoed cold weather jacket and hat as part of a uniform.

Al.3: Orientation and Training

Al.3.1. The worker must receive a safety orientation and training on applicable OSHA standards, agency safety requirements and have enough experience to do his/her job safely. The BRAG Weatherization Program will pay for all WX employees to become OSHA 10 certified minimum.

A2. Personal Protective Equipment

Workers must use personal protective equipment necessary for the task at hand. However, it is not a substitute for taking proper safety measures while performing tasks. Workers still need to avoid hazards.

A2.1. Eye and Face Protection

    • Workers must wear safety glasses or full-face masks when cutting, insulating, 2-part foaming or any other tasks that may cause flying or falling debris to enter the
    • Eye and face protectors are designed for particular hazards so be sure to select the type to match the
    • Employees with prescription lenses must wear eye protection that incorporates the prescription into its
    • Protectors shall meet the following requirements: provide adequate protection against the particular hazard, reasonably comfortable when worn, fit snugly and shall not unduly interfere with the movements of the wearer, be durable, capable of being disinfected and easily cleanable. Also, meet one of ANSI/ISEA 287.1-2010, ANSI 287.1-2003 or ANSI 287.11989 (R-1998)

A2.2. Hand Protection

    • Gloves should be made of a durable material to prevent lacerations to the hand
    • Gloves should fit snugly and not have any loose hanging items
    • Glove gauntlets should be taped for working with fiberglass, lead or any other hazardous/irritable materials

A2.3. Foot Protection

    • Safety toe boots are required at all times and meet the American National Standard for Men’s Safety-Toe Footwear, 1-1967
    • Boots should fit properly
    • Boots shall be made of materials that can withstand weather elements as well as be made of abrasion resistant materials
    • If boots are leather, they shall be conditioned to prevent them from deteriorating

A2.4. Cold Weather Protection

    • Employees shall protect themselves from inclement weather when necessary
    • Bibs or insulated pants shall be made of materials durable enough to withstand abrasion and prevent soaking up moisture
    • Insulated hats shall not hinder your ability to see or hear
    • Insulated gloves shall not hinder your ability to handle power tools or equipment

A2.5. Fall Protection

    • Safety belt lanyard shall be a minimum of 1/2-inch nylon, or equivalent, with a maximum length to provide for a fall of no greater than 6 feet. The rope shall have a nominal breaking strength of 5,400 pounds.
    • All safety belt and lanyard hardware shall be drop forged or pressed steel, cadmium plated in accordance with type 1, Class B plating specified in Federal Specification QQ-P-416. The surface shall be smooth and free of sharp edges.
    • All safety belt and lanyard hardware, except rivets, shall be capable of withstanding a tensile loading of 4,000 pounds without cracking, breaking, or taking a permanent deformation.

A2.6. Respiratory Protection

    • The proper respirator shall be selected for the particular hazard the employee is exposing themselves.
    • Respirators shall be sized properly and fit tested annually.
    • Filter cartridges and organic vapor cartridges shall be replaced on a regular basis or as needed.
    • Respirators shall be taken care of and cleaned regularly.

A2.7. Hearing Protection

    • Hearing protection shall be used on saws and equipment loud enough to cause hearing damage.
    • Hearing devises inserted into the ear shall fit properly as determined by a competent person.

A3. Housekeeping and Access at Site

  • Keep all walkways and stairways clear of trash/debris and other materials such as tools and supplies to prevent tripping.
  • Keep boxes, scrap lumber and other materials picked Put them in a dumpster or trash/debris area to prevent fire and tripping hazards.
  • Provide enough light for workers to see and to prevent accidents.

A4. Ladders 

  • Inspect ladders before use for broken rungs or other defects so falls don’t happen. Discard or repair defective ladders.
  • Secure ladders near the top or at the bottom to prevent them from slipping.
  • When you can’t tie the ladder off, be sure the ladder is on a stable and level surface so it cannot be knocked over or the bottom of it kicked out.
  • Place ladders at the proper angle (1 foot out from the base for every 4 feet of vertical rise).
  • Extend ladders at least 3 feet above the landing to provide a point of contact for balance when getting on and off the ladder from other surfaces.
  • Do not set up a ladder near passageways or high traffic areas where it could be knocked over.
  • Use ladders only for what they were made and not as a platform, runway, or as scaffold planks.
  • Do Not use a stepladder as a straight ladder.
  • Always face the ladder and maintain 3 points of contact when climbing a ladder.

A12: Tools and Equipment 

  • Maintain all hand tools and equipment in a safe condition and check them regularly for defects. Remove broken or damaged tools and equipment from the jobsite. 
  • Follow the manufacturer’s requirements for safe use of all tools.
  • All power saws (circular, skill, table, ) must have factory blade guards.
  • Make sure guards are in place before using power Don’t use power saws with the guard tied or wedged open.
  • Turn off saws before leaving them unattended.
  • Raise or lower tools by their handles, not by their cords.
  • Workers using powder-activated tools must receive proper training before using the tools.
  • Always be sure that hose connections are secure when using pneumatic tools.
  • Never leave cartridges for pneumatic or powder-actuated tools unattended. Keep equipment in a safe place, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Require proper eye protection for workers.

Electrical 

  • Prohibit work on new and existing energized (hot) electrical circuits until all power is shut off and a positive Lockout/Tagout System is in place.
  • Don’t use frayed or worn electrical cords or cables.
  • Use only 3-wire type extension cords designed for  hard or  junior hard service.  (Look  for  any of the following letters imprinted on the casing: S, ST, SO, STO, SJ, SJT, SJO, SJTO.)
  • Maintain all electrical tools and equipment in a safe condition and regularly check for defects.
  • Remove broken or damaged tools and equipment from the job site.
  • Protect all temporary power (including extension cords) with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCls). Plug into a GFCl-protected temporary power pole, a GFCI protected generator, or use a GFCI extension cord to protect against shocks.
  • Don’t bypass any protective system or device designed to protect employees from contact with electrical current.
  • Locate and identify overhead electrical power Make sure that ladders, equipment or materials never come within 10 feet of electrical power lines.

Fire Prevention 

  • Keep fire extinguishers easy to see and reach in case of an emergency.
  • Avoid spraying of paint, solvents, 2-part foam- or other types of flammable materials in rooms with poor The build-up of fumes and vapors can cause explosions or fires.
  • Ensure that leaks or spills of flammable or combustible materials are cleaned up promptly.

Confined Space 

  • Remove any hazard including gas, electrical and trip hazards.
  • Employees must be wearing personal CO meters and need to inform leadership when they become inoperable or
  • Fallow the Small Entity Compliance Guide.

2-Part Foam 

  • Must use Positive Ventilation and continue to ventilate for up to 1 hour after finishing application.
  • Home occupants must be removed from the home.
  • Workers must wear full-face respirators with Charcoal Filter
  • It is good practice to Exhaust Ventilate the home while applying the product.

Section B: Outreach

 Weatherization Program Specialist(s) and the Office Assistant will be responsible for Outreach activities. The public, local support service agencies and the community at large will be notified about Weatherization services through the use of flyers, radio broadcasts, public presentations and word of mouth. The Weatherization Program will coordinate with other local agencies and programs