Page 8 - October 2017 Work Force

Clean up safely from severe weather
Our thoughts are with all affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, including some of our CSEA retiree members in Florida, Texas and other affected areas, and many of your loved ones.
Whether you are in the process of cleaning damage to your homes, or are potentially responsible for storm cleanup through your job here in New York, it’s important to know what you need to safely clean damage at your work sites, communities and homes after severe weather.
Remember, your employer is responsible for your safety in work-related cases.
Our Occupational Safety and Health Department has numerous resources at hand to help guide you in safely cleaning up damage from your homes, including our free Clean-Up Safety smartphone App that you can download on iTunes or the Google Play Store.
We also have numerous fact sheets available for you at cseany.org/osh/storm. Also available for download is our Flood Clean-Up Safety flier, which has some great tips to help ensure you are as safe as possible as you get things back to normal after a storm.
8 The Work Force
October 2017
Flood
Clean-Up Safety
Nothing is more important than your safety, especially during severe weather. Here are the five most important things to remember when cleaning up during/after flooding:
1Flood water is contaminated
Flood water is a mixture of hazardous substances and debris. Stay out of this water and do not drive through it, especially where the depth is unknown. Remember that once water has hit sandbags, mud and building materials, they are also contaminated.
2Protect your body
Your lungs, skin, back and feet are your body parts most in danger during cleanup. If you must perform cleanup duties for work, your employer is responsible for providing proper personal protective equipment and training.
• When working around dusty conditions,
wear at least an N-95 NIOSH-approved face mask. When working around mold, wear a NIOSH-approved HEPA face mask (N-100).
• Keep your skin covered. Hazardous substance found in flood water can be absorbed into the body through the pores on your skin.
• Back injuries due to items being much heavier and soaked with water are common during cleanup. Do not lift heavy items alone.
• Sharp objects can puncture thin shoes and boots. Wear a sturdy, slip-resistant boot during cleanup.
• Always wear gloves and eye protection during cleanup. Do not wash your cleanup clothing with regular laundry.
3Utility safety
Watch out for active utilities, including power lines and natural gas lines. Shut off any utilities possible in the flood zone. Get away from any compromised energy source, and call your energy company immediately to report the problem.
4Do not let children participate in cleanup. Their immune systems are not fully developed and can be easily compromised by the bacteria and hazardous substances. Have them help in other ways away from the actual flooded areas.
5 Equipment safety
Do not operate equipment, especially chain saws, without training and proper protective equipment. Chain saws and heavy equipment can be very dangerous to use if you do not know the proper ways to use them. Many people have been injured or lost their lives during disaster operations due to improper use of equipment.
Learn more at cseany.org/osh/storm or download our Clean-Up Safety App today on iTunes or Google Play Store.