What’s At Stake
WHAT A GARAGE INSTALLER DOES
A garage door installer is responsible for the construction and installation of overhead garage doors. Garage installers work with carpentry tools and various materials to install, repair, maintain, or replace doors. They operate hand and power tools, lift heavy materials, and drive to job sites to assess work and complete necessary actions. Before finishing a job, ensure the garage door opener and all electronic components are working properly. Communicate directly with clients to provide satisfactory customer service and is also responsible for documenting work and maintaining inventory.
THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A GARAGE INSTALLER
To become a garage door installer, you do not need any formal education. Your career should start with an entry-level job at an installation or construction company, working with an experienced garage door installer to gain the skills you need. On-the-job training is invaluable to succeed in the field. Accreditation and certification are available through the International Door Association (IDA), which includes a 6-part course and exam. The IDA also requires proof of insurance and business documentation. Qualifications for jobs as a garage door installer include being able to lift 45+ lbs, comfort working overhead and on a ladder, electrical experience, and good communication skills.
What’s the Danger
HAZARDS OF DOING GARAGE REPAIR
- Torsion springs are dangerous. Torsion springs store mechanical energy when they’re wound up, which makes them dangerous if they become damaged. If your torsion springs break, the spring will unwind and shoot in an unpredictable manner. Being hit by this spring could lead to serious injury or even death.
- Make the problem worse. Because you might not have the right tools or experience, it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re working on garage door repairs. And all it takes is one mistake to make the problem worse.
- The right tools. Attempting to use the wrong tools on your garage door repairs can put you in an unsafe situation, damage the door, and ruin your tools.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
HOW TO PREVENT GARAGE DOOR ACCIDENTS AT WORK OR HOME
Every month, watch as the garage door opens and closes to ensure that it moves smoothly and does not exhibit any unusual behavior or sounds like creaks or grinding noises. Look for unusual movements like stuttering or side-to-side motion.
Check the red-light sensors for obstructions. Objects left in their path can cut off the light beam that is intended to cross from one side of the garage door opening to the other. Ensure that the beam is correctly adjusted and test it by moving an object in front of the beam as the garage door is closing. The door should stop and re-open when it senses a break in the beam.
Visually inspect the system itself: the springs, the hinges and the door panels themselves which could fall off and cause injury.
Be aware that pinching most often occurs when fingers get caught in the spring mechanisms on the sides of the doors, between the rollers and tracks, or between the door panels that fold up when the door is opening. Since the mechanical pressures are great, pinching can lead to serious injuries.
Look for rust, damage and wear on the roller spring, cables and mounting hardware.
Check for items that may have fallen into the garage door track, like a shovel or broom handle. This can cause the door to open or close incorrectly, throwing the door off of its intended track. Garage doors at workplaces can be much larger and heavier than those used in homes, so crushing injuries are more likely to be more severe.
To prevent broken glass from causing laceration injuries, you should make sure that the windows in your garage are made from shatterproof glass.
Most modern garage doors that are less than 10 years old already feature shatterproof glass. If your glass is not shatterproof, have the windows replaced as soon as possible.
BEST SAFETY WORK REGIMEN FOR GARAGE INSTALLERS
Wear your safety glasses to protect your eyes from falling or flying debris. Work gloves provide a good grip on doors while they protect you from sharp metal edges. Coveralls protect your body from accidental cuts and scrapes. Work boots protect your feet from dropped tools and materials while adding a good grip for climbing ladders.
Have the proper tools before arriving at the job site. Hammers, screwdrivers, and vise grips should be sturdy and in good working order. Battery-powered drills, etc. need a full charge. Bring long, indoor/outdoor extension cords with a ground plug if you will be using electric tools.
Before disassembling an old door, assess its condition inside and out. Be cautious about removing the spring tension; an unexpected rebound can lead to serious injury. Disconnect the door from the railings but secure it with clamps.
Old doors can be bulky and heavy, so consider a rope and/or pulley to lower the door. Don’t try to move a large door by yourself; the weight and awkward size could lead to strains and sprains. A saw can cut the door into smaller, manageable pieces for you to carry. If the old door is paneled, disassemble the panels one at a time to break up the load you will have to carry. Lift with your legs while keeping your back straight and your head looking forward.
When you install the rail system and hardware, avoid long overhead reaches by using a ladder or stepstool. Stay below the top two rungs and move the ladder close to your work. Do not lean to the side on the ladder. Make sure that the weight of you, plus your tools and job materials does not exceed the ladder’s rated capacity.
To install panel hardware, use a sawhorse to position the work to a comfortable height. Kneeling on your knees and/or bending to the ground can lead to strains and sprains. When tracking the door, hook the panels one side at a time securely so they don’t come loose as the door is raised.
Spring winding can be extremely dangerous. Only use the proper winding bars to wind the spring. Never use vise grips, pipe wrenches, socket extensions, screwdrivers, rebar, or other tools. Do not touch any spring set screw without a winding bar in place. Never stand in front of the springs when winding. Stand on the ladder off to the side so that if a bar slips or a casting break, the spinning spring won’t force the bar into you.
Use a ladder to install the automatic opener and ceiling brackets. Falls from ladders are often caused by electric shock. Ensure that the electricity is off before you add the electric outlet or directly wire the opener.
FINAL WORD
It seems to some observes, that garage door installation and maintenance work is not dangerous. But on a critical analysis, it is clear that this work can be hazardous and dangerous if all precautions and training are not followed.