Table C1: Recommended Assessments and Actions for Worker Safety Concerns (continued)
Lead Electrical
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be exposed to
electrical hazards.
Actions
• Follow OSHA rule 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart K
requirements for protecting workers from electrical haz
ards (not an exhaustive list):
o Employers must make sure that all non-double
insulated electric equipment is equipped with a
grounding conductor (three-wire type).
o Worn or frayed electric cords must not be used.
o Employers must provide either ground-fault circuit
interrupters or an assured equipment grounding
conductor program (which includes the regular
testing of all equipment grounding conductors) to
protect employees from ground faults.
• See OSHA's Electrical Incidents E-Tool for additional
information on electrical safety.
Falls
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be required to
work at heights of 6 feet or more.
Actions
• If work is required at heights of 6 feet or more, protect
workers with guard rails or by properly securing to pre
vent falls.
• See OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part 1926.501 for additional
information on requirements.
• See OSHA's Web page on fall protection and OSHA's
Falls E-Tool for additional information on protecting
workers from fall hazards.
Ladders
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be using ladders.
Actions:
• Follow OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part 1926.1053, which
includes the following requirements (not an exhaustive
list):
o Portable ladders must be able to support at least
four times the maximum intended load.
o Ladders that must lean against a wall are to be
positioned at a 4:1 angle.
o Ladders are to be kept free of oil, grease, wet paint
and other slipping hazards.
o The area around the top and bottom of the ladder
must be kept clear.
o Ladders must not be tied or fastened together to
provide longer sections.
o Metal ladders must not be used while working on
electrical equipment and electrical wiring.
• See the OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part 1926.1053 for
additional information on requirements.
• See OSHA's publication, "Stairways and Ladders: A
Guide to OSHA Rules," for additional resources on
ladder safety.
Assessment: Determine whether project activities will ex
pose workers to lead dust according to the Assessment
Protocols outlined in the Priority Issue 5.0 Lead. The most
common lead hazards in schools are lead-based paint
(especially in pre-1978 buildings), lead dust and con
taminated soil. Other sources of lead hazards are older
plumbing fixtures, vinyl miniblinds, painted toys and furni
ture made before 1978, lead smelters, or other industrial
sources.
Actions
• If the facility was built before 1978, the existing
paint is assumed to contain lead, and retrofitting
or renovation activities must comply with EPA's
Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule (40 CFR
Part 745) and the OSHA rule at 29 CFR Part 1926.62.
See EPA's EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting
Program Rule website for additional information.
• See OSHA's publication, "Lead in Construction," for
information on OSHA requirements to protect workers
from lead hazards in the construction industry.
Mold
Assessment: Determine whether workers will be exposed to
mold.
Actions
• All suspected moldy areas should be remediated
by properly trained individuals. Moisture problems
need to be identified and fixed or mold will return.
If mold is expected to be disturbed during activities,
immediately bring this to the attention of the site
manager and refer to OSHA's "A Brief Guide to Mold
in the Workplace," NIOSH's "Recommendations for
Cleaning and Remediation of Flood-Contaminated HVAC
Systems: A Guide for Building Owners and Managers,"
EPA's "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial
Buildings," the American Conference of Government
Industrial Hygienists' "Bioaerosols Assessment and
Control," the American Industrial Hygiene Association's
"Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Indoor Mold,"
or the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration
Certification's S520 "Standard and Reference Guide for
Professional Mold Remediation."
• See EPA's Molds and Moisture website for additional
information on mold and mold remediation.
100 Energy Savings Plus Health | INDOOR AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL BUILDING UPGRADES
