box); if no support is available, the trench

must be sloped at no less than a 1:1 (45°)

angle for cohesive soil and angular gravel

and a 11

/2:1 (34°) angle for granular soils

including gravel, sand, and loamy sand or

submerged soil or soil from which water

is freely seeping. 

• Establish a plan for contacting medical

personnel in the event of an emergency. 

• Report any obvious hazards (downed

power lines, frayed electric wires, gas

leaks or snakes) to appropriate authorities. 

• Use fuel-powered generators outdoors. Do

not bring them indoors, as they may pose

a carbon monoxide (CO) hazard.

• Use life-vests when engaged in activities

that could result in deep water exposure. 

• Use extreme caution when handling containers holding unknown substances or

known toxic substances (for example,

floating containers of household or industrial chemicals). Contact the EPA

(Environmental Protection Agency) for

information on disposal at the National 

Response Center (800) 424-8802. 

• Do NOT use improvised surfaces (e.g.,

refrigerator racks) for cooking food or for

boiling water to avoid exposure to heavy

metals.

Clothing and Personal Protective

Equipment

• Always wear watertight boots with a steel

toe and insole, gloves, long pants, and

safety glasses during cleanup operations;

sneakers should NOT be worn because

they will not prevent punctures, bites or

crush injuries. Wear a hardhat if there is

any danger of falling debris.

• Wear a NIOSH-approved dust respirator if

working with moldy building materials or

Health Tips

• Take frequent rest breaks when lifting

heavy, water-laden objects. Avoid overexertion and practice good lifting techniques. To help prevent injury, use teams

of two or more to move bulky objects;

avoid lifting any materials that weigh

more than 50 pounds per person, and use

proper automated lifting assistance

devices if practical.

• When working in hot environments, have

plenty of drinking water available, use

sunscreen, and take frequent rest breaks.

Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

• Be sure that a first aid kit is available to

disinfect any cuts or abrasions. Protect

open cuts and abrasions with waterproof

gloves or dressings.

• Wash your hands often during the day,

especially before eating, drinking, or

applying cosmetics.

General Precautions

• Use a wooden stick or pole to check flooded areas for pits, holes, and protruding

objects before entering. 

• Ensure that all ladders and scaffolds are

properly secured prior to use.

• Conduct a preliminary worksite inspection

to verify stability before entering a flooded or formerly flooded building or before

operating vehicles over roadways or surfaces. Don’t work in or around any flooddamaged building until it has been examined and certified as safe for work by a

registered professional engineer or architect.

• Washouts, trenches, excavations, and gullies must be supported or their stability

verified prior to worker entry. All trenches

should be supported (e.g., with a trench

FactSheet

Cleanup Hazards

Cleanup work of any kind is hazardous, but flood conditions make it even more

so. Following the procedures listed below will help to keep you safe and healthy

while cleaning up after natural disasters that involve flooding.
vegetable matter (hay, stored grain, or

compost). 

• When handling bleach or other chemicals,

follow the directions on the package; wear

eye, hand, and face protection as appropriate; and have plenty of clean water

available for eyewash and other first aid

treatments.

Electrical Hazards

• Do NOT touch downed power lines or any

object or water that is in contact with such

lines.

• Treat all power lines as energized until you

are certain that the lines have been deenergized.

• Beware of overhead and underground

power lines when clearing debris. Extreme

caution is necessary when moving ladders

and other equipment near overhead

power lines to avoid inadvertent contact.

• If damage to an electrical system is suspected (for example, if the wiring has

been under water, you can smell burning

insulation, wires are visibly frayed, or you

see sparks), turn off the electrical system

in the building and follow lockout/tagout

procedures before beginning work. Do not

turn the power back on until electrical

equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician.

• When using a generator, be sure that the

main circuit breaker is OFF and locked out

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

prior to starting the generator. This will

prevent inadvertent energization of power

lines from backfeed electrical energy from

generators and help protect utility line

workers from possible electrocution. 

• Be aware that de-energized power lines

may become energized by a secondary

power source such as a portable backup

generator. 

• Any electrical equipment, including extension cords, used in wet environments

must be marked, as appropriate, for use in

wet locations and must be undamaged. Be

sure that all connections are out of water. 

• All cord-connected, electrically operated

tools and equipment must be grounded or

be double insulated. 

• Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)

must be used in all wet locations. Portable

GFCIs can be purchased at hardware

stores.

Fire Protection

• Immediately evacuate any building that

has a gas leak until the leak is controlled

and the area ventilated.

• Be sure that an adequate number of fire

extinguishers are available and re-evaluate

the fire evacuation plan. 

• Be sure that all fire exits are clear of debris

and sandbags.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DSTM 9/2005