Over the last few years workers in the US have learned that Hurricanes and Super Storms create serious occupational hazards. THE CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has published preparation guidelines so that employees can be adequately protected for these serious and deadly weather related events. Today's post was shared by Safe Healthy Workers and comes from the US CDC.
STORM, FLOOD, AND HURRICANE RESPONSE
Hazard Based Guidelines: Protective Equipment for Workers in Hurricane Flood Response
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The purpose of this National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fact sheet is to provide general guidance for personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers responding in hurricane flood zones. This guidance will be updated as additional information is available. PPE selection and use is site and task specific. General guidelines must be adapted to specific conditions. This guidance represents professional judgment based on experience from responses to past storms and floods. Additional interim recommendations will be added for clean-up and restoration operations.
These recommendations focus on the following hazards associated with response activities:
Hazard 1 Sharp jagged debris
Hazard 2 Floodwater exposure
Hazard 3 Electrical hazards
Hazard 4 Contact with blood/body fluids and handling animal and human remains
Hazard 5 Slick and unstable surfaces
Note: This guidance is not a comprehensive list of hazards and does not include important hazards such as stress or fatigue that are not addressed via PPE.
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