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SPACE HEATER TOOLBOX TALK HANDOUT
BENEFITS
In the winter, employers have a duty to protect workers from cold stress. One way to fulfill that duty is to provide workers, especially those who work outside or in unheated facilities, with space heaters. However, portable heaters pose their own hazards, such as burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. So it’s important that you ensure that workers know how to use them safely.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
Adapt this handoutfor your operations and equipment, OHS program and the requirements in your jurisdiction’s OHS regulations for portable heaters. Give it to workers as part of a safety talk to educate them on the different types of space or temporary heaters and how to safely use such equipment.
OTHER RESOURCES:
IHSA
Space Heater Safety Checklist
AROUND THE PROVINCES: Portable Heater Requirements
Spot the Safety Violation: Location, Location, Location
Spot the Safety Violation: Ventilation Issues
SPACE HEATER TOOLBOX TALK HANDOUT
EXPLAIN
Temporary heaters are dangerous if you don’tcontrol the risks of explosion, fire, carbonmonoxide poisoning and lack of fresh air.Heater exhaust is a source of carbon monoxide(CO). Even in small doses, CO can kill you. It’s aclear, colourless gas that you can’t smell or taste.The first signs of CO poisoning areheadache and fatigue. More exposure can rapidlylead to loss of consciousness, arrested breathing,heart failure and death.
IDENTIFY CONTROLS
Temporary heaters can be fuelled by:
• Electricity
• Liquids, such as fuel oil or kerosene
• Propane
• Natural gas.
Choose an indirect-fired heater instead of a direct-fired heater when you want to heat an enclosed space. An indirect-fired heater vents combustion by-products outdoors, while ducting heated air indoors. A direct-fired heater (such as an open-flame or closed-flame heater) releases combustion by-products into the heated area.
Electric
Electric heaters aren’t as common as fuel- or gas-fired heaters. They’re used where heated air must be free of combustion by-products such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. An electric heater is useful when working in a closed space with limited fresh air.
Liquid fuel
Liquid fuels such as oil and kerosene provide an economical source of heat. But you need a large storage tank on site for a constant supply of fuel. Some liquid-fuelled heaters release exhaust fumes with an oily smell, which can be unpleasant. A solution is to vent the combustion by-products outdoors, which is sometimes done to heat the air over new concrete in winter.
Propane or natural gas
Propane or natural gas heaters provide an economical supply of heat. The equipment is lightweight and easy to move around on site. Both gases are highly flammable and explosive. So you need to take precautions when storing, handling or using these gases.
Safety tips for heaters
• Only workers who’ve been properly trained may operate a heater.
• Don’t block openings for ventilation.
• The cylinder connected to a heater must be at least 10 feet away.
• Keep the flame end of the heater pointed away from the cylinder and away from flammable materials. The heat from a burner can ignite materials well past the burner’s end.
• Make sure the heater has a supply of fresh air to operate safely and efficiently, and to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide.
• Test heated areas for the presence of carbon monoxide.
• Place the heater on a firm, level surface to prevent it from tipping over.
DEMONSTRATE
Inspect heaters being used on site.
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