This week's blog post is a long one, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy this information is very important and timely. Source: QSC Toolbox Talks, Sponsored by A.O. Smith, November 2012
The damage that the winds
and water left behind can seem impossible to fix. Getting back to normal will
take some time and effort. The first thing you need to do is begin to heal
emotionally. Get in contact with counselors who can help you sort through the
mixed feelings of surviving a natural disaster while losing many of the
meaningful things you treasured. Living through a destructive event like a
hurricane can lead to depression and other post-traumatic effects if you try to
ignore it.
Before you begin clean up,
take inventory with a camera so you have documentation for any insurance or
other damage claims. Try to be ready for the impact of seeing may of your
personal items, furniture and your home disturbed or destroyed by the storm and
flooding.
Reentering Buildings
-
Stay away from damaged buildings or structures until they have been examined and certified as safe by a building inspector or other government authority. You may want to wait to return to buildings during daylight hours, when it is easier to avoid hazards, particularly if the electricity is off and you have no lights.
- Leave immediately if you hear shifting or unusual
noises that signal that the structure may fall or if you smell gas or
suspect a leak. If you smell gas, notify emergency authorities and do not
turn on the lights, light matches, smoke, or do anything that could cause
a spark. Do not return to the house until you are told it is safe to do
so.
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area
until cleanup has been completed.
General Safety Measures
- Wear hard hats, goggles, heavy work gloves, and
watertight boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank) for
cleanup work.
- Wear earplugs or protective headphones to reduce
risk from equipment noise.
- Use teams of two or more people to move bulky
objects. Avoid lifting any material that weighs more than 50 pounds (per
person).
- When using a chain saw, operate the saw according to the manufacturer's instructions, wear appropriate protective equipment, avoid contact with power lines, be sure that bystanders are at a safe distance, and take extra care in cutting trees or branches that have gotten bent or caught under another object. Use extreme caution to avoid electrical shock when using an electric chain saw.
- If there has been a backflow of sewage into your
house, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of the
affected area.
- In hot weather, try to stay cool by staying in
air-conditioned buildings, taking breaks in shaded areas or in cool rooms,
drinking water and nonalcoholic fluids often, and wearing light and
loose-fitting clothing. Do outdoor activities during cooler hours. For
more information on protecting yourself against heat-related illness, see
the CDC Extreme
Heat website.
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
- Never use generators, pressure washers, or other
gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your
home, basement, garage, or camper—or even outside near an open window,
door, or vent. Carbon monoxide—an odorless, colorless gas from these
sources that can cause sudden illness and death—can build up indoors and
poison the people and animals inside.
For more information, see the CDC Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency website.
Mold and Cleanup
- Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has
been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
- Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as
flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops,
appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry
or dish detergent.
See the CDC Mold After a Disaster website and the CDC Flood website for further guidance on safely reentering flooded homes, cleaning up flood or storm water, worker safety issues, and mold cleanup issues.
Electrical Issues
- If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have
gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker
or fuse on the service panel. If you must enter standing water to access
the main power switch, then call an electrician to turn it off.
- Never turn power on or off or use an
electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
- Do not connect generators to your home's electrical circuits without the approved, automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is on line when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard and it may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.
For more information, see the CDC How to Protect Yourself and Others from Electrical Hazards Following a Natural Disaster website.
Hazardous Materials Issues
- Call the fire department to inspect or remove
chemicals, propane tanks, and other dangerous materials.
- Wear protective clothing and gear (for example, a
respirator if needed) when handling hazardous materials.
- Wash skin that may have come in contact with
hazardous materials.
- Wear insulated gloves and use caution if you have to remove a car battery. Avoid any acid that may have leaked from a car battery.
Hygiene and Infectious Disease Issues
- If you have any open cuts or sores that were exposed
to floodwater, wash them with soap and water and apply an antibiotic
ointment to discourage infection.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you become
injured or ill.
- Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot
water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from
uncontaminated clothes and linens.
Water Issues
- If the building is flooded, the waters may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems and agricultural and industrial waste. Although skin contact with floodwater does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk, there is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with floodwater.
- If you have any open cuts or sores that will be
exposed to floodwater, keep them as clean as possible by washing them with
soap and applying an antibiotic ointment to discourage infection. (See
also Hand
Hygiene After a Disaster.)
- To reduce cold–related risks when standing or
working in water which is cooler than 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), wear
insulated clothes and insulated rubber boots, take frequent breaks out of
the water, and change into dry clothing when possible.
See also Keep Food and Water Safe
after a Natural Disaster or Power Outage and Reentering Your Flooded
Home.
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