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OSHA field staff is working diligently to provide assistance and support to those involved in the Hurricane Sandy cleanup and recovery.
If you need to contact OSHA for an emergency situation, please call the toll-free hotline
1-800-321-OSHA. For non-urgent matters, you can call the OSHA hotline or send an email.
OSHA urges workers and members of the public engaged in cleanup and recovery activities to be aware of the hazards they might encounter and the necessary steps they should take to protect themselves. OSHA has created a fact sheet* for keeping workers safe during Hurricane Sandy cleanup and recovery. It provides details on possible hazards and protective measures.
Common hazards include downed electrical wires, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards from portable generators, fall and "struck-by" hazards from tree trimming or working at heights, being caught in unprotected excavations or confined spaces, burns, lacerations, musculoskeletal injuries, being struck by traffic or heavy equipment, and encountering contaminated water during flood cleanup.
Protective measures involve evaluating the work area for all hazards; assuming all power lines are live; following safe practices when doing tree work; using fall protection and proper ladder safety when working at heights; task specific exposure monitoring; and utilizing proper precautions for traffic work zones.
Although hazard avoidance is preferred, some situations may expose workers to hazards which can only be mitigated by personal protective equipment (PPE). OSHA's Hurricane Sandy Cleanup PPE Matrix* assists employers in determining the appropriate PPE for specific tasks.
For additional information on US Department of Labor recovery efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Sandy, see DOL's Hurricane Recovery Assistance page.
Most Common Hazards |
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Flood Cleanup Hazards |
Electrical Hazards |
Tree Trimming and Debris Removal
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Falls |
Portable Generators |
Work Zone Traffic Safety |
Construction Hazards |
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Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis (second from left) met with cleanup and recovery workers Nov. 29, 2012, during her tour of storm-damaged areas of Staten Island, N.Y. View more photos.
Press Releases and Other New Items
- Letter from OSHA Region II Administrator to Voluntary Agency Partners on Safety and Health Protections (January 18, 2013)
- OSHA posts results of sampling for contaminants at Sandy cleanup areas in New York and New Jersey (January 9, 2013)
- New OSHA Analysis Results page.
- OSHA issues new fact sheet on mold hazards and safeguards for workers during Sandy cleanup (December 5, 2012)
- Mold Hazards during Hurricane Sandy Cleanup Fact Sheet*[en español*]
- OSHA issues new fact sheet on importance and necessity of providing, using proper personal protective equipment during Sandy cleanup (November 29, 2012)
- Hurricane Sandy Cleanup PPE Matrix Fact Sheet* [en español*]
- Keeping Workers Safe during Hurricane Sandy Cleanup and Recovery Fact Sheet* [en español*]
- OSHA and EPA urge employers, workers, homeowners and others to protect themselves during flood cleanup (November 19, 2012)
- US Department of Labor provides grant to assist Connecticut with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy (November 16, 2012)
- US Department of Labor provides grant to assist Rhode Island with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy (November 6, 2012)
- US Labor Department’s OSHA urges hurricane recovery workers to protect themselves against hazards (November 5, 2012) [en español]
- US Department of Labor provides grant to aid New York communities with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy (November 2, 2012)
- US Department of Labor provides grant to aid New Jersey communities with recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy (November 1, 2012)
Additional Resources
* Accessibility Assistance: Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at (202) 693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF materials.