OSHA urges employers to be prepared to keep their workers safe during extreme weather.
Here are some best practices, according to OSHA, for hurricane response and recovery operations:
- Evaluate the work site for these hazards: falls, electrocution, noise, cut hazards, high ambient temperatures, hazardous substances and infectious materials
- Conduct exposure monitoring (lead, asbestos, benzene, noise), and
- Share hazard and exposure monitoring data among response and recovery organizations.
OSHA has several webpages with best practices for worker safety during disaster response and recovery:
- Emergency preparedness and response
- Hurricane preparedness and response
- Hurricane eMatrix (information on most common hazards), and
- General recommendations for working in impacted areas.
Here is an additional guidance document from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
And when it comes to cleaning up fallen trees, don’t be this nun.