Improving Safety and Saving Lives
Weatherization service provider tests a gas range in a home in Morgantown, West Virginia to make sure the burners are adjusted correctly and do not give off carbon monoxide (CO). This is one of many safety tests that are now routinely carried out during weatherization.
Credit: North Central West Virginia Community Action Agency
One of DOE's goals in increasing flexibility in the Weatherization Program in recent years is to allow weatherization crews to more fully address health and safety issues they come across on the job. The crews find all kinds of hazards, including carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion of fuel in old boilers, furnaces and water heaters; indoor air quality problems from mold that accumulates in walls, basements, and attics exposed to moisture; and fire hazards from outdated electrical equipment and wiring. They also find many examples of equipment that could become a hazard in the case of a flood, tornado or other natural disaster. For example, manufactured homes that are heated with propane should have their propane tanks fastened securely to a foundation in case of flood. For more information, see the DOE report on "Hazard Identification and Mitigation."