It must feel great to work as an HVAC professional in a heating and air conditioning company. There is no question about that because you are able to help others while earning a big paycheck at the end of every month.

But you need also to take care to stay safe while working in the fascinating world of the heating and cooling industry. Safety is extremely important in your line of work since you will be exposed to a variety of risks.

In this article, we will look at the greatest safety threats for HVAC contractors and also safety measures against them.

Risk Related To HVAC Job

The significant risk attached to the work of HVAC professionals are as follows:

Equipment-based Risks: Various equipments of different weights, size, and complexity, are used in this job, and if they are not handled carefully, it can become a cause of danger to the worker. Moving the parts of large units, like pulleys, fans, etc., should be done carefully because a bit of carelessness can raise the risk of cuts, scrapes, punctures, etc.
Wiring-related Risks: While working with electric equipment, the risk of Electrocution is the biggest fear. HVAC contractors work with wires daily, increasing the electrocution risk.
Falls and Crushing Injuries: Installation and removal of large HVAC units require cranes and other equipment. It increases the risk of falls for workers when they are working on heights or when they are moving heavy HVAC components.
Fatigue-related issue: Many times, HVAC workers must work on a tight schedule to complete the work of installation of the HVAC system, which leads to exhaustion. Due to lack of rest or fatigue, they can make critical mistakes at some point in their work.
Environmental or Exposure risk: The heating and cooling system contains some chemicals that can harm a person if exposed. HVAC workers must work with old or leaking equipment, which increases the risk of exposure to these chemicals.
Burns and related injuries: The work of HVAC workers involves repairing and installing moving or extremely hot objects. They should be very careful while working with these systems because they can cause a burn or other injuries.
Safety Violation: Sometimes, due to a person’s negligence, another person must suffer consequences. This situation can also occur with HVAC workers in the works where they were to remove an interlock when working on height, etc.

Safety Tips For HVAC Workers

There are some safety tips that an HVAC worker should follow to ensure his safety:

Always wear Protective Gear: HVAC workers should always wear protective gear while doing the job. Protective gear includes a respirator, face shield, safety goggles, gloves, arm protector, earplugs, helmet, and slip-resistance shoes.
Use the proper tools at the right time: As an HVAC worker, you have learned about the various tools used in work. Therefore, you should always handle the tools properly and with care.
Practice Chemical Safety: As an HVAC professional, you ought to deal with various chemicals daily, some of which are harmful to your health. It would help if you practiced how to work with chemicals to protect yourself from their harmful effects.
Minimize the risk of Electrocution: You should always take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of electric shock. For example, always turn off the main circuit before working on any electric equipment.
Take proper training: As an HVAC technician, you should complete your training properly to avoid any risks in the future.
Refrain from taking shortcuts: You should never rush your work or avoid taking shortcuts; it will always impact you adversely.

Conclusion

The work of an HVAC technician provides good career opportunities for an individual, but at the same time, it brings some threats also. Therefore, it would help if you took all the precautions properly to avoid any accidents during work.