Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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Checking once again on inspector safety concerns.
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Checking once again on inspector safety concerns.
Originally Posted By: mkober
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Difficult to answer without knowing all of the facts: why was the house unoccupied??–47 dead cats and feces piled to the kitchen counter-tops? Radon measured at 520 pCi/l.? Mold accumulations up to 1/4" thick below the windows? Tell us more.
MJK
Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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Good point - yes, a lot of variables, particularly without the facts - but how would you best protect yourself - given no information, other than the house is uninhabited?
Just food for thought......Regards, Claude
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Originally Posted By: jquinn
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Claude,
The fact that a house is uninhabited, in and of itself, means absolutely nothing. A quick peek inside the front door may change one's mind though. I'm inclined to agree with Michael on this one.
James Quinn
Originally Posted By: lfranklin
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| Quote: |
| If a respirator is required |
Took that to mean, pick the better respirator.
What was the best answer or was there one 
Good question. Got me to looking at the new respirators.
Originally Posted By: jquinn
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Larry,
If a house requires a new furnace it should be :
a) 100,000 BTU
b) 75,000 BTU
c) 45,000 BTU
is this a tip ? " If a house requires a new furnace"
Originally Posted By: lfranklin
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Yes and no
No about the size but.
Yes to the tip, because I know to dress to stay warm.
Originally Posted By: cradan
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Holy cow. I inspected an uninhabited property yesterday, and wore no type of breathing PPE. I did notice that my lungs hurt this morning.
Now I can't figure out if it was the friable asbestos, the abundant mold spores, the Chlordane pest control application in the crawl, the still-wet thirty years after installation UFFI, the latent Legionnaire's virus in the ductwork, or the pack of Marlboro light menthols I've huffed between then and now. Mommas don't let your boys (or girls) grow-up to be property inspectors.
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Chris
http://www.inspect4me.com
Chicago Illinois Home Inspections
Originally Posted By: clawrenson
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Sorry gents - than I guess I wasted your time.
Thought the question might have been enlightening.
So my sincere apology!
On the other side why don't we do something positive with the value of asking such a dumb question (obviously in some opinions) and realize the value of taking care of our own personal health and safety!
So I guess those inspectors ( quite a few that I personally know) that have fallen ill from some "poor" unwise decisions that have become almost fatally sick felt such a dumb question may have thought otherwise - even after the fact.
Cheers, Claude
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Ontario Home Inspections Inc.
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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I would think a resiprator would be necessary just for the cold air up in Canada, let alone a vacant house.
Half the houses I do are vacant. Funny, I've never even thought of bringing my "mask" with me 
Originally Posted By: jpope
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| clawrenson wrote: |
| Sorry gents - than I guess I wasted your time.
Thought the question might have been enlightening. So my sincere apology! |
No apology necessary Claude.
I am a firm believer in wearing my respirator. I always were it in crawl spaces and on many occasions I will wear it in attics as well. I have even worn in in the interior of a vacant property. In that case however, it was posted on the entry doors that PPE was required upon entry and asbestos warnings were posted on the windows.
I am a certified "Confined Space Construction Specialist," (it sounds more impressive than it actually is  ). Many inspectors know little about the potential dangers in confined spaces.
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Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: rcooke
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I always wear a respirator with two charcoal canisters when I go into an attic. We had in Ontario a Home inspector who was very ill for a long time from BAT Guawano. It is very bad for the lungs . I also get a bad cough from many old attics from the dust . Did an attic 3 months ago and the bat dung was 12 inches thick in one area. So be carful it can be hazardous. Roy Cooke sr Brighton ont
Originally Posted By: dvalley
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Roy,
Not to get off topic here, but tell me a little more about Bat dung and what it will do if breathed in.
I recently did a townhome that was absolutely loaded with Bat dung throughout the attic but I continued my attic inspection.
Tell me more please.
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David Valley
MAB Member
Massachusetts Certified Home Inspections
http://www.masscertified.com
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
Originally Posted By: rcooke
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Here are a couple of sites that give some info . Glad to help . A good mask is a great safety item . I think Fibre Glass could be our next big concern Roy C src.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/histoplasmosis_g.htm
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/histopla.html
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/histoplasmosis/index.asp
Originally Posted By: rgries
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If the attic or crawl space is considered a confined space then an air fed respirator would be required if the home is not mechanically ventilated, per OSHA.
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that meets all of the following criteria:
1. It is not designed or intended for human occupancy, except for the purpose of performing work
2. It has a restricted means of access and egress
3. It may become hazardous to anyone entering it because of:
a. The design, construction, location, or atmosphere of the space
b. The materials or substances in it
c. Any other conditions relating to it
By definition a home is not a confined space because it does not have restricted egress or access.
An attic or crawl space may be confined spaces if there is no ventilation, or if there is a hazard such as chemical, electrical, or other concerns.
Originally Posted By: krodgers
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Respirators should only be used as a “last line of defense” when engineering control systems are not feasible. Engineering control systems, such as adequate ventilation or scrubbing of contaminants should be used to negate the need for respirators.
NIOSH issues recommendations for respirator use. Industrial type approvals are in accordance to the NIOSH federal respiratory regulations 42 CFR Part 84. Development of respirator standards are in concert with various partners from government and industry.