When to WALK AWAY & . When to

When to WALK AWAY & When to WALK AWAY & .. When to When to

Providing weatherization Providing weatherization services in a services in a Safe & EffectiveSafe & Effective manner without undue hazards manner without undue hazards to WZ staff, Contractors and to WZ staff, Contractors and the Households we serve the Households we serve

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When to WALK AWAY &When to WALK AWAY & When to When to RUNRUN

Protecting one of your greatest assets of your Protecting one of your greatest assets of your agency should be your #1 priorityagency should be your #1 priority

WZ CREWS & CONTRACTORSWZ CREWS & CONTRACTORS

In 1990 the State Energy Efficiency ProgramsIn 1990 the State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act (SEEPIA) added Health andImprovement Act (SEEPIA) added Health and Safety to the statutory purposes of WAP Safety to the statutory purposes of WAP including including deferral standardsdeferral standards


Purpose of Health and Safety PlanPurpose of Health and Safety PlanWeatherization agencies are required to take all Weatherization agencies are required to take all reasonable precautions against performing work on reasonable precautions against performing work on homes that will subject workers or clients to health homes that will subject workers or clients to health and safety risksand safety risksDepartment of Energy allows funds to be used for Department of Energy allows funds to be used for removing removing energy-relatedenergy-related health and safety hazards health and safety hazardswww.waptac.org/ technical tools then health & safety technical tools then health & safety

http://www.waptac.org/


Deferral StandardsDeferral Standards The decision to defer work in a dwelling or, in The decision to defer work in a dwelling or, in

extreme cases, provide no weatherization services, is extreme cases, provide no weatherization services, is difficult but necessary in some cases. This does not difficult but necessary in some cases. This does not mean that assistance will never be available, but that mean that assistance will never be available, but that work must be postponed until the problems can be work must be postponed until the problems can be resolved. resolved.

Crews and contractors are expected to pursue all Crews and contractors are expected to pursue all reasonable options on behalf of the client.reasonable options on behalf of the client.


What are Deferral of Denial conditions?What are Deferral of Denial conditions?The client has known health conditions that prohibit The client has known health conditions that prohibit the installation of insulation and other weatherization the installation of insulation and other weatherization materials. materials. The building structure or its mechanical systems, The building structure or its mechanical systems, including electrical and plumbing, are in such a state including electrical and plumbing, are in such a state of disrepair that failure is imminent and the of disrepair that failure is imminent and the conditions cannot be resolved cost-effectively. conditions cannot be resolved cost-effectively. The house has sewage or other sanitary problems The house has sewage or other sanitary problems that would further endanger the client and that would further endanger the client and weatherization installers if weatherization work were weatherization installers if weatherization work were performed.performed.


What are Deferral or Denial conditions?What are Deferral or Denial conditions? The house has been condemned or electrical, The house has been condemned or electrical,

heating, plumbing, or other equipment has been "red heating, plumbing, or other equipment has been "red tagged" by local or state building officials or utilities. tagged" by local or state building officials or utilities.

Moisture problems are so severe they cannot be Moisture problems are so severe they cannot be resolved under existing health and safety measures resolved under existing health and safety measures and with minor repairs. and with minor repairs.

Dangerous conditions exist due to high carbon Dangerous conditions exist due to high carbon monoxide levels in combustion appliances, and monoxide levels in combustion appliances, and cannot be resolved under existing health and safety cannot be resolved under existing health and safety measures.measures.


What are Deferral or Denial conditions?What are Deferral or Denial conditions?The client is uncooperative, abusive, or threatening The client is uncooperative, abusive, or threatening to the crew, subcontractors, auditors, inspectors, or to the crew, subcontractors, auditors, inspectors, or others who must work on or visit the house. others who must work on or visit the house. The extent and condition of lead-based paint in the The extent and condition of lead-based paint in the house would potentially create further health and house would potentially create further health and safety hazards. safety hazards. Illegal activities are being conducted in the dwelling Illegal activities are being conducted in the dwelling unit.unit.


Other Deferral or Denial conditions?Other Deferral or Denial conditions?Evidence of substantial, persistent infestation of Evidence of substantial, persistent infestation of rodents, insects or other harmful/objectionable rodents, insects or other harmful/objectionable animals that are difficult to control. animals that are difficult to control. Excessive debris build up in and around the dwelling Excessive debris build up in and around the dwelling which limits the program staff access to the dwelling.which limits the program staff access to the dwelling.Maintenance and housekeeping practices that are Maintenance and housekeeping practices that are negligent to the point of limiting the access of negligent to the point of limiting the access of program staff to the dwelling.program staff to the dwelling.


Substantial amount of standing water in or around Substantial amount of standing water in or around the crawl space or basement area limiting the proper the crawl space or basement area limiting the proper completion of weatherization measures.completion of weatherization measures.Major remodeling is in progress, limiting the proper Major remodeling is in progress, limiting the proper completion of weatherization measures.completion of weatherization measures.The presence and/or use of any controlled substance The presence and/or use of any controlled substance in the dwelling during the weatherization process.in the dwelling during the weatherization process.The presence of a dead animal, or animal feces, in The presence of a dead animal, or animal feces, in any area of the dwelling where program staff must any area of the dwelling where program staff must install weatherization measures.install weatherization measures.

Other Deferral or Denial Other Deferral or Denial conditions?conditions?


Other Deferral or Denial conditions?Other Deferral or Denial conditions?Proposed weatherization conservation measures will Proposed weatherization conservation measures will result in minimal energy savings and the cost of result in minimal energy savings and the cost of installing these measures have a savings-to-installing these measures have a savings-to-investment ratio of less than one (1).investment ratio of less than one (1).Other conditions?Other conditions?


Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)Sub-grantees performing weatherization activities on Sub-grantees performing weatherization activities on homes which may expose staff or contractors to homes which may expose staff or contractors to existing unsafe conditions should determine whether existing unsafe conditions should determine whether to proceed with work based on the following factors:to proceed with work based on the following factors:

▬ Does the agency have the necessary training, Does the agency have the necessary training, equipment and insurance to allow work to proceed; andequipment and insurance to allow work to proceed; and▬ Does the condition of the dwelling and/or the hazardousDoes the condition of the dwelling and/or the hazardous substances to be encountered during thesubstances to be encountered during the weatherization process pose a threat to the health andweatherization process pose a threat to the health and safety of the participants or to the workers themselves; safety of the participants or to the workers themselves; andand


▬ To what extent will the specific energy efficiency measures to be installed disturb or aggravate conditions within the home; and

▬ Will the cost of doing work safely represent a large portion of the total cost and exceed the 10% of total job cost allowed by the state for health and safety?

Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)

Based on consideration of these factors, Sub-Based on consideration of these factors, Sub-grantees should determine whether to:grantees should determine whether to:


Proceed with all the weatherization work following safe work practices, orComplete some of the weatherization tasks and defer others for a period of 90 days, orDefer all the weatherization work until unsafe conditions are corrected.

Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)Factors to consider a Walk-Away (IDAHO)

Sub-grantees are expected to pursue all Sub-grantees are expected to pursue all reasonable options on behalf of the client to reasonable options on behalf of the client to provide servicesprovide services


Client EducationLandlords/ Property Management CompaniesContractors (electrical, plumbing, and roofing) USDA/Rural Development/ HUDDepartment of Health and WelfareOffice on Aging MedicaidCity & County offices (work details & indigent funds)ChurchesDonations/ Agency non-federal cash

Pursuing Reasonable Options (case by case)Pursuing Reasonable Options (case by case)

Structurally Unsound/ UnfinishedStructurally Unsound/ Unfinished

No Exterior Siding



Fire damage

Structurally Unsound/ Unfinished Structurally Unsound/ Unfinished

Wood rot from excessive moisture


Mobile Home w/ addition


Siding, Roofing and Gray Water

ElectricalElectrical

Night Light, GFCI (safety)

Duct tape J-box


No service panel cover & electrical web


Cadet heater exposed

Switch plate missing

Outdoor light wiring exposed

PlumbingPlumbing

Mobile Home leaks in cold weather

River runs through it

PlumbingPlumbing

Crawlspace~ sewer drain broken

Excessive Debris/SanitationExcessive Debris/Sanitation

Path house debris ~ Dog debris

Animals & PestAnimals & Pest

Spiders, snakes, skunks & dogs


Bottom line~ protect your crews, contactors

and the people we serve.

Documents

When to WALK AWAY & . When to