2007 - 06/29/2007 - OSHA's hurricane response and recovery resources available for storm season

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OSHA News Release
2007 - 06/29/2007 - OSHA's hurricane response and recovery resources available for storm season

OSHA News Release - Table of Contents

Trade News Release
June 29, 2007
Contact: Office of Communications
Phone: (202) 693-1999

OSHA's hurricane response and recovery resources available for storm season

WASHINGTON -- This summer and fall, hurricane relief employees stand to benefit from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) products offering tips on safe and healthful work practices following a storm. Information on safety standards for dealing with hazards such as electrocution, falling tree branches, and contaminated water is available on the OSHA Web site at www.osha.gov.

"In the aftermath of a destructive storm, hazards related to cleanup and recovery efforts can result in injury or death," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "Our publications offer the best advice for employers and employees on protecting themselves from hazards as they work to restore storm-ravaged communities."

OSHA's Hurricane Recovery Web page showcases resources OSHA developed on workplace safety and health for hurricane response and recovery to assist employers and employees. Below are some of the items featured.

QuickCards are concise, easy-to-read laminated cards offering information on dozens of different employee hazards or hazardous situations. Decontamination, Tree Trimming and Removal, and Electrical Safety may all be useful in a response or recovery situation. Many of OSHA's QuickCards are available in Spanish, with some offered in Vietnamese as well.
Fact Sheets offer a comprehensive overview of safety precautions for various hazards and help explain OSHA's regulations applicable to them. OSHA has several fact sheets dealing with hazards faced by employees involved in hurricane response and recovery, including Cleanup Hazards, Flood Cleanup, and Fungi.
Safety and Health Information Bulletins (SHIBs) inform employers and employees of occupational safety and health issues concerning hazard recognition, evaluation, and control in the workplace and at emergency response sites. SHIBs available from OSHA include Respiratory Protection and Workplace Precautions Against West Nile Virus.
OSHA's new Hurricane eMatrix is a tool that incorporates occupational hazards, information, observations, recommendations and data that OSHA gathered and distributed during its response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The eMatrix offers users access to general recommendations, provides sampling and monitoring data, and outlines employer and employee responsibilities for conducting response and recovery operations after a disaster. It also features 29 operation-specific activity sheets that help employers reduce the risk of hazard exposure during various cleanup tasks.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.

OSHA News Release - Table of Contents


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