Raised Flooring
Date Posted: 08/30/2016
Raised Flooring Systems allow ventilation, plumbing, and/or high and low voltage systems to be installed under the floor. Under-floor air distribution has been found to be more energy efficient because less fan power is required to distribute air at the floor than in overhead in the conventional ceiling systems. As a result, there is less overhead work on a ladder but more trip and fall hazards.
Access
When installing under-floor air distribution systems it is important to create a safe and secure walkway. The area of the installation should be isolated and only those required for the installation should be allowed to enter the space. Tight scheduling is critical to keeping people safe.
Trip Hazards
With all of your HVAC equipment moving from the ceiling to the floor there is a wide range of trip hazards associated with this installation. From the equipment, to the pedestals, to the floor panels, trip hazards are one of the biggest concerns with this system which makes access and area isolation that much more important.
Impalement
With all of the pedestals and equipment standing around the site a trip or fall can become significantly more serious with an impalement injury caused by the edges of all of the equipment. Caps should be placed on pedestals and a safe walkway is key to ensuring safety. o
Change in Elevation
As the under-floor air system progresses you move from trip hazards to fall hazards. When working on the elevated area it is very important to be aware of any edges that may lead to a fall.
Balancing and O&M
Before the equipment can be run it must be balanced. During balancing the system is completely installed and a few select panels are removed to test the flow of air. This can almost be even more dangerous than the construction of the system because people are not looking for falls and trips when all of the floor around them is covered. Any panels that are removed for balancing or maintenance should be marked with a flag or taped off to prevent people from falling through.
Material Handling
Floor panels can be heavy and there are often a large number that need to be installed. Combined, trip hazards and material handling can becomes a serious concern. Proper procedures should be put into place to prevent employees from getting strains or sprains and to prevent trips and falls when handling and moving materials
Presenter Tips:
Pre-read the Tool Box Talk. Your comfort level and confidence will be higher if you know your topic.
Discuss related tasks, work areas or events that make the Tool Box Talk relevant to your jobsite.
Involve the workers by asking questions and input that drives discussion.
Questions for Discussion:
Where is it located?
Which trades may be in a new situation?
How is it sequenced?
What equipment & materials are involved?
How is it installed?
How is it operated & maintained?
