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 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 flood-damaged 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

submerged soil or soil from which 

freely seeping.

■ Establish a plan for contacting me

personnel in the event of an emer

■ Report any obvious hazards (dow

lines, frayed electric wires, gas le

snakes) to appropriate authoritie

■ Use fuel-powered generators out

not bring them indoors.

■ Use life-vests when engaged in ac

could result in deep water exposu

■ Use extreme caution when handli

holding unknown substances or k

substances (for example floating c

household or industrial chemicals

the Environmental Protection Age

information on disposal at the Na

Response Center (1-800-424-88

■ Do NOT use improvised surfaces 

refrigerator racks) for cooking foo

boiling water to avoid exposure to 

metals.

Clothing and Personal Prote

Equipment

■ Always wear water tight boots wi

and insole, gloves, long pants, an

glasses during cleanup operation

should NOT be worn because the

prevent punctures, bites or crush 

Wear a hardhat if there is any dan

debris.

■ Wear a NIOSH-approved dust re

working with moldy building mate

vegetable matter (hay, stored gra

compost).
2003

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

any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards 

refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impa

upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999. See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.

■ Treat all power lines as energized until you are

certain that the lines have been de-energized.

■ Beware of overhead and underground 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 prior to

starting the generator. This will prevent

marked, as appropriate, for use i

locations and must be undamage

that all connections are out of wat

■ All cord-connected, electrically op

and equipment must be grounded 

insulated.

■ Ground-fault circuit interrupters (

be used in all wet locations. Port

can be purchased at hardware st

Fire Protection

■ Immediately evacuate any buildin

gas leak until the leak is controlle

area ventilated.

■ Be sure an adequate number of f

extinguishers are available and re

fire evacuation plan.

■ Be sure all fire exits are clear of d

sand bags.