Experts from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration are headed to Guam to help keep recovery workers safe following the devastation that resulted from Typhoon Mawar which struck landfall last month.
OSHA was set to deploy its specialists to the U.S. territory of Guam June 4, about two weeks after the typhoon caused devastating damage to the island and knocked out power for thousands of people, according to a June 2 news release.
“OSHA safety and health experts on the ground in Guam will provide outreach and technical assistance needed to help people as they begin recovery work in areas most affected by Typhoon Mawar,” OHSA San Fransisco Regional Administrator James Wulff said in the release. "People involved in storm recovery and cleanup must follow proper procedures to protect themselves from the many risks that exist after a natural disaster.”
The goal of OHSA's workplace safety and health experts is to pinpoint and get rid of health and safety hazards that could harm recovery workers, the release reported. These hazards could include: heat-related illness, electrical hazards or carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
The federal agency has routine inspections in areas heavily impacted by the typhoon, at least for the time being, according to the release. The agency will still look into fatalities, catastrophic incidents, employee complaints, life-altering injuries and cases where employers repeatedly expose workers to serious hazards.
Employers and employees in Guam can seek assistance from OSHA through their toll-free hotline, the Honolulu Area Office or by accessing the OSHA Hurricane Preparedness and Response website, the release stated. OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program also offers confidential and no-cost occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses. Employers in Guam can contact the Guam Onsite Consultation Program or the CNMI OSHA Onsite Consultation Program to schedule a visit and receive expert guidance.
