HVAC System Safety & Precautions

HVAC Systems

• Always wear protective eyewear and clothing including hand protection when working on A/C systems. Refrigerants have very low boiling points. They can freeze body parts like an eyeball very quickly and cause serious damage.

EYE PROTECTION

• Your eyes can become infected or permanently damaged by many things in the shop.

• Metal and dirt particles as well as pressurized gases are just some of the hazards your eyes can become exposed to in the shop.

• Eye protection should be worn in the shop.• Prescription glasses do not offer sufficient protection

and should not be worn as a substitute for safety glasses.

• Wearing safety glasses at all times is a good habit to have.

• If chemicals such as battery acid, fuel or solvent get into your eyes, flush them continuously with water and get medical attention Immediately.

A/C Systems

• The system can contain as much as 500 PSI that is trying to escape. This pressure can drive dirt and debris with great amount of force.

• Stay clear of moving engine parts like drive belts, and cooling fans.

• Do not allow tools, clothing or body parts to contact moving parts.

• Cooling fans have been known to break and send a blade flying outward with extreme force and speed.

MSDS

• MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet.• Find out where your MSDS binder is.• Make sure you are familiar with the binder.• Part of the “Right to Know Law”.• Refer to appropriate MSDS when working with

each new chemical so you become familiar with the properties of that chemical.

Refigerants

• Be aware that refrigerants do not support life. If released into confined area, they can suffocate living things that must breath.

• Avoid breathing refrigerant and refrigerant oil mist and vapors, particularly PAG oil.

• Provide plenty of ventilation while working on A/C systems.

Synthetic Oils

• Synthetic oils can irritate skin, attract moisture that will cause corrosion, damage vehicle paint, plastic, and rubber parts.

• Do not cause oil to burn. Breathing the vapors can cause serious injury.

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DOT Container

• Always use DOT approved container for recovering and storing refigerants

• Make sure tank has been inspected at proper intervals.

Tools

• Always follow the manufacture's instructions when using service tools and equipment.

Flammable Refrigerant

• If forced to work with or recover a flammable refrigerant, never use electrical equipment or a tool that might cause a spark.

Compressed air

• Do not use compressed air to leak or pressure test an R-134a system or service equipment.

• Pressurized air and R-134a mixtures can be flammable under certain conditions.