MIAMI – The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a reminder to emergency responders, recovery workers, and residents in areas recently affected by intense rainfall to exercise caution and protect themselves from hazards during flood cleanup efforts.
"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds everyone that recovery work must never come at the expense of someone’s safety and well-being," stated OSHA Southeast Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. "Flood recovery work presents numerous safety and health hazards — amid power loss, water accumulation, and saturation of building materials and electrical components — all of which can be minimized by being knowledgeable, following safe work practices, and using personal protective equipment for debris removal."
OSHA advises individuals involved in recovery efforts to avoid entering areas with standing water when possible. Such locations may have hidden openings or depressions below the water surface that pose serious injury or drowning risks.
Following destructive weather events, workers are essential for restoring electricity, communications, water, and sewer services. These tasks often involve removing standing floodwater from structures, performing demolition work, clearing debris, identifying hazardous waste, and other necessary response actions.
Workers typically encounter various hazards including extreme heat; handling contaminated or unsafe materials; carbon monoxide exposure; electrocution risks from water-impacted electrical circuits; and fall hazards related to debris removal or working at heights.
Before starting any recovery work, OSHA recommends evaluating the work area for potential hazards, ensuring workers are adequately trained for their tasks, and verifying that identified hazards are controlled effectively.
OSHA provides extensive resources on worker safety during flood cleanup and recovery operations through its comprehensive site. This includes quick cards and fact sheets available in both English and Spanish. For additional information, individuals involved in response efforts can contact OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
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