Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU) Risk Assessment

Last Updated: February 7th, 2023/Views: 4175/2.6 min read/
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Servicing air handling units (AHUs) involves inspecting, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the various components of the unit to ensure it is functioning properly and efficiently. AHUs are responsible for circulating air throughout a building, so it is important to keep them in good working order. Servicing an AHU can include tasks such as checking and replacing filters, cleaning fan blades and motors, inspecting ductwork, and checking the operation of heating and cooling elements. The goal of servicing AHUs is to improve the performance of the system, extend its lifespan, and reduce the risk of breakdowns or malfunctions. Regular servicing of AHUs can also improve indoor air quality by reducing the accumulation of dirt and debris in the system. It is important to follow proper safety procedures and guidelines when servicing AHUs to minimize the risk of injury or harm to oneself or others.
Operations, Tasks or Steps in Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU)
  • Preparation: Obtain all necessary tools, equipment, and safety gear (e.g. gloves, safety glasses, etc.) to complete the service work.
  • Turn off power: Turn off the power to the AHU to prevent electrical shock.
  • Inspection: Inspect the AHU and its components, including filters, fan blades, ductwork, heating and cooling elements, and electrical connections.
  • Cleaning: Clean the filters, fan blades, and other components as needed. Use a vacuum or soft brush to remove dirt and debris.
  • Repairing: Repair or replace any damaged or worn components, such as filters, fan blades, and ductwork.
  • Testing: Turn the power back on and test the AHU to ensure it is functioning properly.
  • Maintenance: Document the service work and schedule future maintenance tasks to keep the AHU in good working order.
Hazards in Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU)
  1. Preparation:
    • None
  2. Turn off power:
    • Electrical shock: Turning off the power to the AHU can prevent electrical shock while working on the unit.
  3. Inspection:
    • Physical injury: Moving or climbing on the AHU or its components can result in injury.
  4. Cleaning:
    • Physical injury: Cleaning fan blades and other components can result in injury if not performed properly.
  5. Repairing:
    • Physical injury: Repairing or replacing components can result in injury if not performed properly.
  6. Testing:
    • Electrical shock: Testing the AHU with the power on can result in electrical shock.
  7. Maintenance:
    • None
Health and Safety Control Measures in Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU)
  1. Preparation:
    • None
  2. Turn off power:
    • Electrical safety procedure: Follow proper electrical safety procedures when turning off the power to the AHU.
  3. Inspection:
    • Physical safety procedure: Follow proper physical safety procedures when inspecting the AHU and its components. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and safety glasses.
  4. Cleaning:
    • Physical safety procedure: Follow proper physical safety procedures when cleaning fan blades and other components. Wear appropriate PPE such as gloves and safety glasses.
  5. Repairing:
    • Physical safety procedure: Follow proper physical safety procedures when repairing or replacing components. Wear appropriate PPE such as gloves and safety glasses.
  6. Testing:
    • Electrical safety procedure: Follow proper electrical safety procedures when testing the AHU with the power on.
  7. Maintenance:
    • None
Recovery Measures
Good Practices in Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU)
Incidents in Servicing Air Handling Units (AHU)
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