07 Mar Garage Door Installers

Garage Door Installer Safety

Garage door installation and repair involves several significant hazards, including high-tension springs, heavy and awkward door sections, electrical equipment, ladders, power tools, sharp metal edges, and overhead work. Installers must understand these hazards and use proper tools and work practices before removing, installing, adjusting, or servicing a garage door.

Garage door springs and components can store substantial mechanical energy. Torsion and extension springs can cause severe or fatal injuries if they release unexpectedly. Employees must be properly trained and must never attempt spring adjustment or removal unless they understand the specific door system and have the correct tools.

Personal Protective Equipment

Wear PPE appropriate for the work being performed, including:

• Safety glasses with side protection.
• Work gloves appropriate for handling sheet metal, cables, tracks, and door sections.
• Safety footwear appropriate for dropped-object and puncture hazards.
• Long pants and suitable work clothing to protect against cuts and abrasions.
• Hearing protection when noise exposure requires it.
• Additional PPE identified by the job hazard assessment or manufacturer.

Gloves should not be relied upon as protection against moving or tensioned components. Keep hands away from pinch points whenever the door is moving or components are being adjusted.

Tools and Equipment

Before beginning work, make sure you have the correct tools for the specific door and spring system.

• Inspect hand and power tools before use.
• Remove damaged tools, cords, ladders, and equipment from service.
• Use power tools only with the guards and safety devices provided by the manufacturer.
• Use extension cords rated for the environment and equipment being powered.
• Do not improvise tools for spring adjustment or other high-energy operations.
• Follow the garage door and opener manufacturer’s installation and service instructions.

Before Removing an Existing Door

Inspect the complete door system before beginning disassembly. Look for:

• Damaged or deteriorated panels.
• Broken or weakened tracks and brackets.
• Frayed or damaged cables.
• Loose or missing fasteners.
• Bent or damaged rollers.
• Broken or improperly adjusted springs.
• Evidence that components are under unexpected tension.
• Structural damage around attachment points.

Secure the door against unintended movement before disconnecting components.

Never remove, loosen, cut, or disconnect a component until you understand whether it is supporting the door or under spring tension.

Spring Safety

Spring installation, adjustment, and removal are among the most hazardous parts of garage door work.

• Only trained and authorized employees may work on torsion or extension spring systems.
• Follow the door manufacturer’s procedures for releasing and applying spring tension.
• Use properly sized, manufacturer-approved winding bars for torsion springs.
• Never substitute screwdrivers, socket extensions, rebar, pipe, punches, or other makeshift devices for winding bars.
• Keep your face and body out of the potential path of winding bars and spring components.
• Maintain firm control of the winding bars throughout the operation.
• Never loosen a torsion-spring set screw unless the spring is properly controlled with the correct winding bar.
• Inspect springs, winding cones, cables, drums, brackets, and fasteners before applying tension.
• Keep employees and customers outside the hazardous area while springs are being adjusted.

If a spring, winding cone, bracket, cable, or other component appears damaged or incompatible with the system, stop work until the condition has been properly evaluated and corrected.

Handling Door Sections

Garage doors and individual sections can be heavy, awkward, and difficult to control.

Do not attempt to lift or maneuver a load that cannot be safely controlled. Use another employee or appropriate mechanical assistance when necessary.

When handling door sections:

• Plan the lift before moving the material.
• Keep the load close to your body.
• Maintain secure footing.
• Lift primarily with your legs rather than bending at the waist.
• Avoid twisting while lifting or carrying.
• Keep hands and fingers away from section joints and other pinch points.
• Use sawhorses or another stable work surface when assembling hardware.

When installing sectional doors, secure each section according to the manufacturer’s instructions before proceeding to the next step.

Ladder Safety

Use an appropriate ladder or platform for overhead installation instead of stretching or standing on makeshift surfaces.

• Inspect the ladder before use.
• Place it on a firm, level, and stable surface.
• Maintain three points of contact while climbing.
• Face the ladder while ascending and descending.
• Never stand on the top step or top cap of a stepladder.
• Do not overreach; descend and reposition the ladder.
• Do not carry tools or materials while climbing if doing so prevents safe climbing.
• Keep the area around the ladder free of debris and other trip hazards.
• Do not exceed the ladder’s rated capacity, including the employee, tools, and materials.

Electrical and Automatic Door Openers

Automatic garage door openers introduce electrical and unexpected-movement hazards.

Before installing, servicing, or adjusting an opener:

• Disconnect electrical power when exposure to electrical or mechanical hazards exists.
• Prevent unexpected energization or operation while servicing the equipment.
• Verify that the power source and receptacle are appropriate for the equipment.
• Never remove grounding connections or defeat electrical safety features.
• Keep cords away from sharp edges, moving door components, and pinch points.
• Follow the manufacturer’s wiring and installation instructions.
• Electrical work must be performed only by employees qualified and authorized to perform that work.

Never assume a circuit is de-energized merely because a switch is turned off.

Pinch and Crush Hazards

Garage doors contain numerous pinch, shear, caught-between, and crush points, particularly around:

• Hinges and section joints.
• Rollers and tracks.
• Springs and cables.
• Drums and pulleys.
• Door edges.
• Opener arms and drive mechanisms.

Keep hands, fingers, clothing, and tools clear of these areas whenever the door is moving or the system is under tension.

Never stand or work beneath an unsecured or unsupported door.

Testing the Completed Installation

After installation or repair:

• Verify that all tracks, brackets, fasteners, cables, springs, and hardware are properly installed.
• Remove tools, clamps, temporary supports, and other materials from the operating area.
• Keep other persons clear during initial testing.
• Operate the door carefully through its full range of travel.
• Verify that the door moves smoothly and remains properly aligned.
• Test the opener’s automatic reversing and entrapment-protection features according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Correct any abnormal movement, noise, binding, or malfunction before placing the door into normal service.
• Replace guards, covers, and protective devices before completing the job.

Working Alone

Working alone can increase the consequences of an injury, particularly when handling heavy doors or working with spring systems. Employees must not attempt tasks that require additional personnel or mechanical assistance to perform safely merely because another worker is unavailable.

Maintain a reliable means of communication and know how to obtain emergency assistance at the work location.

Remember

Garage door installation is not routine when stored spring energy, heavy door sections, electrical systems, and overhead work are involved. Use the correct tools, control stored energy, secure the door against movement, protect yourself from pinch points, and never improvise when working with garage door springs.