Hvac - insulation work

The checklist is intended to support the development of routines for safer work. The supervisor shall, in cooperation (between employers and employees) with the safety representative, use the checklist as documentation and aids in the planning of insulation work. The checklist is divided into eight categories: • Work planning – planning and organisation of work. • For the fitter on site – permits, inspection of ladders, etc. • The workplace – what is important when you are out in a workplace. • Working methods – gluing and processing of bowls, etc. • Functioning procedures – the company's routines. • Insulation fitters' knowledge – knowledge of routines for working safely in isolation. • Equipment for a safe and good working environment – equipment and protective equipment. • Adhesives and other chemical products – adhesives and safety data sheets.

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Area/location

Date

Approved by

Participants

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. When work is scheduled or quoted, and the work may involve work at height, difficult to access, awkward working postures or work in untidy premises
a) Do you always ensure that there is enough time to work safely and take breaks?
b) Are there clauses in tenders stating that there will be a cost if the work cannot be carried out safely and with a reasonable working environment without special measures being taken?
2. Do you ensure that sufficient time is allocated when scheduling or quoting work that may take longer than usual (e.g. work involving water-based glue)?
3. Is the importance of designing pipes always emphasized to ensure that the insulation fitter can access and work efficiently and safely (placement of and space around the pipes)?
4. Are there work and safety instructions for working at heights (over 2 m)?
5. If you work while hanging from a harness, are the existing rules for the work being followed? (Note: you should have special training.)
6. Is insulation work included in the work environment plan for construction and in work preparation?
7. Has the work been planned with the workplace's BAS-U?
8. Is time set aside for isolation in the work preparation?
9. Can a scissor lift or a construction or mobile scaffold be used for work at a height (over 2 m)?
10. If the scissor lift, construction or mobile scaffold cannot be used for work at heights (over 2 m)
a) Can a basket lift be used?
b) Is there fall protection equipment available?
c) Is a fall protection harness being used?
11. If you plan to use a ladder, have you conducted a risk assessment and received proper training?
a) Can work be performed from a ladder? The work should not be prolonged, involve heavy equipment or require handling objects with both hands, or involve stretching to reach high or over a large area.
b) Can the ladder be set up securely?
c) Is it ensured that there are at least two people if the work is done from a ladder?
d) If necessary, is there a fall protection harness firmly attached to the appropriate place (not on the ladder)?
e) Is the slope of the ladder appropriate? (Stand next to the foot of the ladder and measure with your elbow against the ladder, see the Swedish Work Environment Authority's brochure ADI 511.)
f) Is the ladder anchored at the upper end (e.g. with straps) for added stability if necessary?
g) Is the workplace so secluded or screened off that there is no risk of anyone passing or working nearby bumping into a ladder or something else?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
12. Is the workplace prepared before work begins, so that people can access and not trip over materials and rubbish?
13. Are lifting and transport aids available if there is a need to move the fore to access?
14. Have unnecessary cables and other items that may be live been removed from the work area?
15. If awkward working postures cannot be avoided, is working time limited, for example, by alternating with other tasks such as picking up materials? Is it important not to work for long periods of time in awkward working positions?
16. If pipes or other items in the workplace are hot
a) If necessary and feasible, is heat included?
b) Does protective equipment reduce the risk of burns?
c) Is there additional ventilation available if needed to prevent overheating?
d) Is there access to water, e.g. a water bottle attached to a carabiner?
17. If there is a risk that someone will work above the work area (risk of dropping down the pre-tasks), are the procedures that apply within the company followed (e.g. not to perform the work if someone works overtime)?
18. Are the procedures for working alone followed when lone work occurs?
19. Are equipment where there is a risk of being hit or trapped, such as overhead cranes, cranes or gates, locked?
20. If there is a risk that machines start moving, should the power be cut off or the machine be locked?
21. Are there sharp metal sheets or protruding screws, etc., that could cause cuts and need to be covered or bent?
22. Once all the safety measures possible have been taken, are there any risks that are difficult to address and require extra caution?
23. Do activities take place in the same or adjacent premises?
a) Does the activity spread dust and air pollution, requiring the workspace to be screened off and ventilated before and during work?
b) Is there excessive noise, requiring the use of hearing protection or other measures?
24. Are materials and other items cleaned up when the work is completed?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
25. When cutting bowls, should the bowls be cut on a stable work surface, such as cardboard? NB! Avoid cutting against the bone.
26. Do you use pre-glued cellular rubber insulation as much as possible? This reduces the need for protective measures such as ventilation and respiratory protection.
27. If water-based glue is used, are the staff trained in how to plan the work and how to work with the glue to ensure that the quality of the glue joint is as good as possible?
28. If solvent-based adhesive is used, what are the potential health risks for employees?
a) Is the adhesive primarily used in well-ventilated premises?
b) Is there adequate ventilation in the room, and is a portable fan being used?
c) If it is not possible to arrange good ventilation, should a respirator be used to protect against solvents during gluing and for a while afterwards (until the fumes have been ventilated)?
d) Are protective gloves used if necessary to avoid getting glue on the skin?
e) Is the workplace free of substances that can ignite solvent fumes?
29. Is there a written welding permit issued by the supervisor or the responsible safety manager?
30. Is there a welding screen?
31. Do welders and welding guards have a hot work qualification?
32. Are suitable fire extinguishing materials (e.g. fire extinguishers, blankets, thermally insulated gloves, etc.) readily available when welding?
33. If combustible material cannot be removed, is it covered with fireproof material?
34. Are respirators used when welding in connection with insulation and even after the insulation has been completed, until the welding fumes have been vented out?
35. When welding in confined and poorly ventilated areas,
a) Are there written safety instructions?
b) Are respirators always used with P3 filters or compressed air-fed respirators?
c) Is compressed air breathing equipment used if the space is so cramped and poorly ventilated and there is so much welding gas that there is a risk of suffocation or poisoning? (P3 filters are not enough.)
d) Is the point extraction easily accessible and easy to use?
e) If a mobile smoke eater is used, is the exhaust air discharged outside the space? (Note: The smoke eater only removes particles, welding gases are not separated, so the exhaust air should be discharged outside the confined space.)
f) Is everyone aware that it is prohibited to use free-burning gas flames for heating? (Risk of deadly high levels of carbon monoxide.)
g) Is the space well-ventilated when using shielding gas? (Note: the shielding gas can displace the oxygen if the room is poorly ventilated, which can be fatal!)
36. Is there always someone maintaining contact with the person inside the ventilation duct when working in there?
37. Is it ensured that there is no risk of infection or hazardous substances on the surfaces inside the ventilation ducts?
38. Is the ventilation system secured to prevent accidental activation during work in the ventilation duct?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
39. There are functioning procedures for...
a) Should the insulation fitters be aware of the local safety regulations that apply where the work is to be carried out and comply with them?
b) Do all insulation installers always check that it is safe to start work, for example with the help of a checklist?
c) To check if asbestos is present in the workplace and if so, what should be done? (Note that working with asbestos requires a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authority and training.
d) When is it allowed to work alone and what safety measures should be taken?
e) How to communicate with employees who may be working alone?
f) What equipment, e.g. scaffolding ladder lift, lighting, safety shoes, knee pads, protective gloves, high-visibility vest, helmet, fall protection, respiratory protection, etc., needs to be brought to each work stand?
g) How and when should personal protective equipment be checked and maintained?
h) Is the work being carried out while suspended in a harness?
i) What should the insulation fitter do if someone works above the fitter's work area (risk of losing foresight on the fitter)?
j) Are there instructions available for using water-based glue? (Water-based adhesives pose less health risks than solvent-based adhesives, but should be used in a different way.)
k) Do you work in spaces that are particularly hot or cold?
l) Do you work in narrow and hard-to-reach spaces, e.g. crawl spaces, attics, and enclosed spaces?
m) Safe driving at work?
40. If an accident or incident occurs
a) Are there established routines in place?
b) Is there preparedness for how the employee is taken care of?
c) Are all employees aware of what they may need to do?
d) Is reporting of accidents and incidents to the immediate manager or supervisor within the company effective?
e) Does the company's reporting of serious incidents and work-related injuries or ill-health to the Swedish Work Environment Authority work?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
41. Everyone knows.
a) How can the risks of awkward working postures be reduced to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal injuries?
b) What are the accident risks at work and how can they be avoided?
c) Risks associated with the chemical products (adhesives) used and how the risks are mitigated, for example, through work and safety instructions?
d) What routines apply when working alone?
e) What should be done in case of an accident?
f) How and when should personal protective equipment be used?
g) How and when should personal protective equipment be checked and maintained?
h) How can asbestos be recognized?
i) What should be done if asbestos is discovered?
j) Are there procedures for training new employees on how they can work to reduce the risk of injury or illness?
k)

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
42. Should trestles, ladders, lifts, stairs with railings, craftsmen, or rolling scaffolds be used?
a) CE-märkt?
b) In good condition, e.g. anti-slip guards, rungs with anti-slip protection, and railings?
43. Is there access to lighting, e.g. headlamp or movable construction light?
44. Are there any scissors or other tools available to reduce strain on the hand when cutting a lot of insulation, net, or sheet metal, such as spring-back scissors?
45. Is there good equipment (workwear with pockets, tool belt or other) for safe and easily accessible storage of tools and knives?
46. Is a safety knife used, where possible, to avoid cuts?
47. If fall protection may need to be used?
a) Is everyone who will use the fall protection aware of how to use and attach it?
b) Is there a fall protection harness that is CE marked and in good condition?
48. Are there well-functioning work gloves available and used to protect against sharp edges and hot surfaces, for example, and when working with mineral wool?
49. If there is work that requires respiratory protection, such as gluing and welding?
a) Is the respirator suitable for use in confined spaces?
b) Is the respirator fan-fed (more comfortable to use if the work is heavy or if it is hot) if necessary?
c) Does the respirator protect against the air pollutants that occur? P3 or P2 filters protect against dust, and other filters protect against fumes from, for example, glue. (P2-P3 filters protect against dust but not against fumes.)

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
50. Have you checked if it is possible to switch to waterborne glue if solvent adhesives are used?
51. If curing adhesives are used (epoxy, polyurethane or acrylate adhesives)
a) Have you investigated whether you can switch to contact glue? (Means less risk and you avoid demands for medical check-ups and special training.)
b) Has everyone working with the adhesive undergone medical check-ups and are they regularly checked according to the Swedish Work Environment Authority's provisions (thermosetting plastics)?
c) Is everyone who works with the glue trained on risks and protective measures (according to the Swedish Work Environment Authority's statute book)?
d) Are skin contact with the adhesive and inhalation of fumes avoided (respiratory protection may be required)?
52. Do all chemical products labeled with red-and-white hazard pictograms (or orange hazard symbols) have current safety data sheets?
53. Is there a list of all chemical products that are labelled?

Hvac - insulation work

General information about the checklist

Work planning (1-11)

When work is scheduled or quoted, and the work may involve work at height, difficult to access, awkward working postures or work in untidy premises

a) Do you always ensure that there is enough time to work safely and take breaks?

b) Are there clauses in tenders stating that there will be a cost if the work cannot be carried out safely and with a reasonable working environment without special measures being taken?

Do you ensure that sufficient time is allocated when scheduling or quoting work that may take longer than usual (e.g. work involving water-based glue)?

Is the importance of designing pipes always emphasized to ensure that the insulation fitter can access and work efficiently and safely (placement of and space around the pipes)?

Are there work and safety instructions for working at heights (over 2 m)?

If you work while hanging from a harness, are the existing rules for the work being followed? (Note: you should have special training.)

Is insulation work included in the work environment plan for construction and in work preparation?

Has the work been planned with the workplace's BAS-U?

Is time set aside for isolation in the work preparation?

Can a scissor lift or a construction or mobile scaffold be used for work at a height (over 2 m)?

If the scissor lift, construction or mobile scaffold cannot be used for work at heights (over 2 m)

a) Can a basket lift be used?

b) Is there fall protection equipment available?

c) Is a fall protection harness being used?

If you plan to use a ladder, have you conducted a risk assessment and received proper training?

a) Can work be performed from a ladder? The work should not be prolonged, involve heavy equipment or require handling objects with both hands, or involve stretching to reach high or over a large area.

b) Can the ladder be set up securely?

c) Is it ensured that there are at least two people if the work is done from a ladder?

d) If necessary, is there a fall protection harness firmly attached to the appropriate place (not on the ladder)?

e) Is the slope of the ladder appropriate? (Stand next to the foot of the ladder and measure with your elbow against the ladder, see the Swedish Work Environment Authority's brochure ADI 511.)

f) Is the ladder anchored at the upper end (e.g. with straps) for added stability if necessary?

g) Is the workplace so secluded or screened off that there is no risk of anyone passing or working nearby bumping into a ladder or something else?

Workplace (12-24)

Is the workplace prepared before work begins, so that people can access and not trip over materials and rubbish?

Are lifting and transport aids available if there is a need to move the fore to access?

Have unnecessary cables and other items that may be live been removed from the work area?

If awkward working postures cannot be avoided, is working time limited, for example, by alternating with other tasks such as picking up materials? Is it important not to work for long periods of time in awkward working positions?

If pipes or other items in the workplace are hot

a) If necessary and feasible, is heat included?

b) Does protective equipment reduce the risk of burns?

c) Is there additional ventilation available if needed to prevent overheating?

d) Is there access to water, e.g. a water bottle attached to a carabiner?

If there is a risk that someone will work above the work area (risk of dropping down the pre-tasks), are the procedures that apply within the company followed (e.g. not to perform the work if someone works overtime)?

Are the procedures for working alone followed when lone work occurs?

Are equipment where there is a risk of being hit or trapped, such as overhead cranes, cranes or gates, locked?

If there is a risk that machines start moving, should the power be cut off or the machine be locked?

Are there sharp metal sheets or protruding screws, etc., that could cause cuts and need to be covered or bent?

Once all the safety measures possible have been taken, are there any risks that are difficult to address and require extra caution?

Do activities take place in the same or adjacent premises?

a) Does the activity spread dust and air pollution, requiring the workspace to be screened off and ventilated before and during work?

b) Is there excessive noise, requiring the use of hearing protection or other measures?

Are materials and other items cleaned up when the work is completed?

Practice (25-38)

When cutting bowls, should the bowls be cut on a stable work surface, such as cardboard? NB! Avoid cutting against the bone.

Do you use pre-glued cellular rubber insulation as much as possible? This reduces the need for protective measures such as ventilation and respiratory protection.

If water-based glue is used, are the staff trained in how to plan the work and how to work with the glue to ensure that the quality of the glue joint is as good as possible?

If solvent-based adhesive is used, what are the potential health risks for employees?

a) Is the adhesive primarily used in well-ventilated premises?

b) Is there adequate ventilation in the room, and is a portable fan being used?

c) If it is not possible to arrange good ventilation, should a respirator be used to protect against solvents during gluing and for a while afterwards (until the fumes have been ventilated)?

d) Are protective gloves used if necessary to avoid getting glue on the skin?

e) Is the workplace free of substances that can ignite solvent fumes?

Is there a written welding permit issued by the supervisor or the responsible safety manager?

Is there a welding screen?

Do welders and welding guards have a hot work qualification?

Are suitable fire extinguishing materials (e.g. fire extinguishers, blankets, thermally insulated gloves, etc.) readily available when welding?

If combustible material cannot be removed, is it covered with fireproof material?

Are respirators used when welding in connection with insulation and even after the insulation has been completed, until the welding fumes have been vented out?

When welding in confined and poorly ventilated areas,

a) Are there written safety instructions?

b) Are respirators always used with P3 filters or compressed air-fed respirators?

c) Is compressed air breathing equipment used if the space is so cramped and poorly ventilated and there is so much welding gas that there is a risk of suffocation or poisoning? (P3 filters are not enough.)

d) Is the point extraction easily accessible and easy to use?

e) If a mobile smoke eater is used, is the exhaust air discharged outside the space? (Note: The smoke eater only removes particles, welding gases are not separated, so the exhaust air should be discharged outside the confined space.)

f) Is everyone aware that it is prohibited to use free-burning gas flames for heating? (Risk of deadly high levels of carbon monoxide.)

g) Is the space well-ventilated when using shielding gas? (Note: the shielding gas can displace the oxygen if the room is poorly ventilated, which can be fatal!)

Is there always someone maintaining contact with the person inside the ventilation duct when working in there?

Is it ensured that there is no risk of infection or hazardous substances on the surfaces inside the ventilation ducts?

Is the ventilation system secured to prevent accidental activation during work in the ventilation duct?

Functioning procedures (39-40)

There are functioning procedures for...

a) Should the insulation fitters be aware of the local safety regulations that apply where the work is to be carried out and comply with them?

b) Do all insulation installers always check that it is safe to start work, for example with the help of a checklist?

c) To check if asbestos is present in the workplace and if so, what should be done? (Note that working with asbestos requires a permit from the Swedish Work Environment Authority and training.

d) When is it allowed to work alone and what safety measures should be taken?

e) How to communicate with employees who may be working alone?