When inspecting a house, home inspectors will be expected to place themselves in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. Many of these are unpredictable. Home inspections are by their nature a risky job. Crawl spaces, attics and rooftops can be dangerous, as well as the possibility of encountering dangerous animals. Sadly, safety is often overlooked during home inspections. This includes not only the training phase but also during the actual job.
Safety Tips for Home Inspectors
It’s vital that you know how to protect yourself as a Certified Home Inspector in Scottsdale. These tips will help you to protect yourself. This is important, especially if your work involves a lot of unknowns.
- In bad weather, never enter a potentially dangerous situation such as a roof.
- Wear head protection when crawling through attics and crawl spaces
- Replace worn-out or old tools
- Always carry a backup flash light
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Regularly inspect your ladder – Home inspectors use ladders every day, so you want to make sure that they are working properly.
- You should be familiar with the native wildlife in case you come across poisonous snakes or insects during your inspection.
- Dress appropriately
- Head protection
- Fire resistant shirts
- Insulated tools for electrical works
- Rubber soled shoes
- Rubber and leather gloves combined
Safety Equipment & Tools That Every Home Inspector Should Have
In order to perform a thorough inspection, home inspectors have a wide range of requirements. It’s true that there are currently no industry-wide mandatory items they must possess to perform their jobs safely and thoroughly, both from a legal and physical standpoint. It is a fact that, the better prepared they are for their job in terms of accurate measurements and inspections as well as safety and accessibility, the more efficient they will be.
How to Prepare For Dangerous and Hazardous Conditions during a Home Inspection
- Inspectors must have gloves, safety glasses and boots. They also need a ladder that is sturdy and practical. Electrical gloves and heavy duty protective ones are also essential.
- Electrical gloves must meet ASTM D120/EIC903 standards and be of high dielectric strength and physical strength. They usually consist of rubber insulating glove liner gloves with leather protective gloves over them.
- Roof boots with replaceable bottoms that provide high-traction make it easier to walk on roofs without slipping.
- Many inspectors use telescoping ladders to make it easier to carry them for roof access or some interior areas.
- Toolkits that include binoculars and steel tape measures, 1/4″ and 5-/16″ nut drivers, and a 4-way screwdriver are often useful.
- The toolkit may include other items such as a telescoping magnetic for retrieving screws and an electrician’s blade, compass and night-light. Batteries and bulbs are also available in spare quantities.
- The addition of a smoke pen is a useful tool to check combustion appliances to make sure toxic exhaust gases are not being re-distributed and to ensure that return air vents work properly.
- A flame mirror for inspecting the interior of oil burners and telescoping adjustable mirrors to look into areas with limited accessibility are also important additions.
- A tool vest allows you to easily carry items like a flashlight, moisture meter or infrared temperature meter, electrical testers and cell phones.
- Dust masks of high quality can provide protection against dust, insulation particles and other contaminants.
- Inspectors should also have a respirator with them when they enter areas that contain materials that are biologically hazardous. This can include viruses, bacteria and fungi that can settle in the respiratory tract as well as asbestos or other carcinogens.
- The inspector will need a multimeter that can detect voltage (even when there is no current flowing) and a carbon monoxide tester to check for gas coming from water heaters.
- A portable combustible leak detector can be used to check for leaks of toxic gases in the gas lines.
A metal shaft thermometer, either analog or digital, is useful for measuring the temperature difference in cooling and heating systems. - Moisture meters and infrared camera are also important tools used by inspectors.
- Moisture meters are used to measure the moisture content of wood products and other non-wood materials, or to detect roof leaks and insulation that is missing, as well as assess the energy efficiency of a home.
- Infrared thermometers can be used to check the temperature of heating or cooling equipment such as registers, hotwater, etc. and electrical equipment like circuit breakers.
Home inspectors must have the right tools to protect their business in addition to having tools for a thorough, safe inspection. We provides coverage to protect the home inspector from any financial loss if they are held liable for financial losses that someone might incur due to something that the inspector did not find or report during the inspection.
How To Avoid Electrocution During Home Inspection
Home inspectors should be vigilant when inspecting wiring because electrical problems are the leading cause of fires in homes. Home inspectors require E & O coverage because a single faulty wire can have serious legal and financial repercussions. We insure home inspectors who are often knee-deep in faulty wires. It is important that we provide some tips and precautions for avoiding electrocution during home inspections.
What Are The Dangers?
Some of the common wiring issues found during a home inspection are:
- Grounding receptacles that are worn out or incorrectly wired
- The loose, hanging wires
- Open junction boxes
- It is also common to see wiring or switches that are not heavy enough for the load, or inadequately sized.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), while required for all new construction, should ideally be retrofitted to all existing homes. While industry standards mandate that home inspectors test “a representative sample” of switches, outlets and light fixtures during an inspection, it’s best to inspect each one individually for the proper placement and spacing.
What Are The Risks Of Electrocution During An Inspection?
OSHA and others stress that a circuit producing 6-25 milliamperes can cause a painful electric shock, and even a loss of muscle control. Any power source that can supply more than 30mA, regardless of voltage, has the potential of killing you. There are a few basic steps to take when dealing with electrical equipment in a home.
How To Avoid Electrocution During Home Inspections
- Turn off Power: Before the inspection, turn off power to all electrical circuits. Then test them with a multimeter to make sure that power has been turned off.
- Keep 10 Feet From Power Lines: Home inspectors are exposed to electricity hazards, such as overhead power lines and the electrical drop that comes from the pole of the power line. You should stay at least 10 feet away from power lines to avoid electrocution, even when you are inspecting the electrical drop for fraying and other electrical hazards.
- Even “Safe” Voltages Are Dangerous: Attic Inspections can pose electrical risks, as they could bring inspectors in close contact with open wiring or circuits. Even “safe” voltages are dangerous. A mild shock on the roof can make you lose your balance.
- Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): You can prevent accidents by using insulation, guarding and grounding devices, clothing, protective gear, and safe work practices. All home inspectors should wear electrical gloves that comply with ASTM D120/EIC903 standards. Electrical gloves must be dielectrically and physically strong. Typically, they consist of liner glove under rubber insulating hands with protective leather gloves over them. When inspecting electrical circuitry or outlets, always wear insulated footwear. Wear rubber boots and gloves if you cannot avoid working near areas with water and electrical circuits.
- Insulate Tool: Before using any tool during an inspection of a house, make sure it is properly insulated. Insulators, such as rubber, glass, mica or plastic, are used to cover metals or other conductors in order to reduce or stop the flow of electricity. This prevents shocks, fires and short circuits.
- Use Electrical Testing: Inspectors need to be armed with a range of electrical testers, such as a tester that is high-quality for testing ground fault circuit interrupter devices (GFCI). The home inspector should have the most powerful and versatile electrical tester they can afford. It is usually classified as a tester for arc-fault or ground-fault interrupter circuitry (AFCI/GFCI). It can also test for 120-volts and 240-volts electrical current.
