
Washington — OSHA is warning employees concerned within the restoration efforts after Hurricane Helene to concentrate on hazards brought on by flooding, energy outage, structural injury, fallen timber and storm particles.
“People involved in recovery and cleanup activities should have experience and proper training and be familiar with related equipment,” a Department of Labor press launch states.
Protective measures employers and employees ought to take embody:
- Evaluate work areas for hazards.
- Assess the soundness of constructions and strolling surfaces.
- Ensure using fall safety when engaged on elevated surfaces.
- Assume all energy strains are stay.
- Operate chainsaws, transportable mills, ladders and different gear correctly.
- Use private protecting gear, equivalent to gloves; exhausting hats; and listening to, foot and eye safety.
“As our region seeks to restore our communities after a weather emergency like Hurricane Helene, it is important to remember the wide range of hazards storm recovery presents, particularly for emergency responders and recovery workers,” OSHA’s Atlanta Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer mentioned within the launch. “The threat of accidents and fatalities throughout cleanup will be lowered with information, protected work practices and utilizing correct private protecting gear.
“Our safety professionals are ready to assist with questions about reducing hazards in the wake of this catastrophic storm.”