Crawl Space Inspection Hazards | Crawl Space Waterproofing | Charlotte NC

CRAWL SPACE INSPECTION HAZARDS

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CRAWL SPACES

Crawl spaces are considered confined spaces. According to the OSHA construction standards for confined spaces (29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA), these areas are large enough for a worker to enter them and have limited or restricted means of entry or exit. Besides, confined spaces are not designed for continuous occupancy.

CRAWL SPACES MAY INVOLVE SOME HAZARDS Because of their conditions, crawl spaces may involve some hazards that are dangerous to workers’ lives if not properly identified and controlled.

In this sense, when crawl spaces do not comply with minimum standards, they can have a hazardous atmosphere and materials that can be considered serious a safety hazard or a health-related risk. For example, dirt floors expose people to the ground, biological and chemical contaminants, and limit movement when workers or homeowners enter them.

ASBESTOS

Old crawl spaces can be treated with asbestos insulation. If you are inspecting a crawl space, avoid disturbing asbestos because microscopic fibers are toxic and become airborne if the insulation is handled. Asbestos is associated with severe cancer diseases such as mesothelioma that affects the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity. Also, asbestosis is another condition caused by exposure to asbestos, and it is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease that damages lung tissues

INSULATION CONTAINING ASBESTOS Insulation containing asbestos has been widely used because it is inexpensive and fire-resistant. Indeed, this material is common in commercial buildings, ships, crawls spaces, and many industries. For this reason, professional insulators have been highly exposed to asbestos for decades.

PESTS AND MOLD

When inspecting a crawl space, we should be concerned about mold issues. Musty and moldy confined spaces cause mold-spores-breathingallergies and respiratory diseases. Toxic black mold can be hazardous and harm your health.

Indeed, prolonged exposure can lead to more dangerous health consequences such as nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

Crawl spaces can provide shelter for many pests such as insects, rodents, and wildfire. In this sense, rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels are disease vectors. Indeed, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe respiratory disease caused by coming into contact with urine, droppings, or saliva produced by rodents. Likewise, pests can cause several structural damages to the home, especially when they attack wooden structures.

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