Are home inspectors required to wear hard hats, especially if you’re going to be inspecting an attic and crawl spaces?
Negative………
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Thanks for the response Walter, though I still wonder why not because looking at it from a safety standpoint when inspecting an attic you would have overhead structures above you. So wouldn’t a hard hat help say you accidentally bump your head on an overhead beam? OSHA 2021 regulations state: 1926.100(a)
Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, shall be protected by protective helmets.
I wear a bump cap in crawlspaces.
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As a firm believer in natural selection, no. In some of the places I crawl you couldn’t get through with a hard hat.
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Simply your choice. But there are no specific safety rules governing home inspectors.
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But hey, if you feel better wearing a hard hat then by all means….
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Looks solid. I will check it out. Thanks
okay my brother. Well understood. Thanks
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Self employed are not covered by OSHA, most others are.
https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/elg/osha.htm
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Trust me, get one with a chin strap. You will look like a dork but you might thank me one day 
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Why I could never work for someone or have employees. I have five guys work with me, they are all independent contractors.
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I like the way you roll.
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I wear a bump hat in attics, (not many crawl spaces in my area). You will thank me when you lift you head in an low attic and hit a roofing nail with you head!
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A bump cap is the way to go. Looks like a baseball cap but has a plastic liner.
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As long as you are truly self-employed, due as you wish. Personally, I have the PPE available when I feel it is needed. Have seen guys use rock climber or bike helmets in the tight spaces. If it meets ANSI Specs should be good. Had an interesting CE about that subject at a meeting for radon mitigators. They brought up the rock climber helmet as being ANSI Acceptable. As always - check with your insurance carrier, both business and health, self employed or not. THEY may have some comments on the matter.
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I only wear them on my new construction Inspections. I follow all posted PPE requirements before entering any structure.
This regulation has been around for decades. It only applies to active construction and work areas. OR if posted on a property. It doesn’t apply to home inspecting. Now walking a roof without fall protection, could be an OSHA violation under certain circumstances.
If you are inspecting new construction and the builder has it posted “Hard Hats Required”, then you should have a brain bucket on regardless. And what ever other PPE is required. My stuff is always handy.
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you are correct. I did OSHA and safety audits for a few years and over head hazards is interpreted as a falling object or an over head object that moves. Like if you are working with a crane. Attic does not apply. You would want to treat an attic or crawl space like a confined space. I believe the attic is the biggest killed of home inspectors and this is caused from heat exhaustion. That was the last data I read. Pretty sure we have all bumped into a nail once or twice though so if you want to wear a bump hat or whatever no one is going to stop you.
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Guys, I’m resourceful and go with what I can when needed,
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