Safety Information for Response and Cleanup Workers

If you’re working as a response or cleanup worker after a hurricane, here’s information to help you prepare and stay safe.

Prepare

• Health Information for Disaster Relief Volunteers
  Find information about how to volunteer, prepare, and stay safe.
• Health Recommendations for Relief Workers
  Get tips to help you stay healthy when traveling to disasters overseas.
• Immunization Recommendations for Disaster Responders
  Find advice on vaccines you might need before you arrive at a disaster site.

Stay Safe During an Emergency

General Safety

• Worker Safety After a Flood
  Read about safety equipment, vaccinations, and injuries.
• Protective Equipment for Workers in Hurricane Flood Response
  Get information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on personal protective equipment (PPE) and worker safety.
• Storm/Flood and Hurricane/Typhoon Response
  Check out this resource page for emergency response, including information on cleanup, disaster site management, and medical risks.
• Emergency Response Resource for Workers
  Find safety information for emergency responders working after natural disasters like tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, and wild fires.

Electrical Safety

• Electrical Safety and Generators
  Get tips on preventing injuries from portable generators.
• Worker Safety in a Power Outage
  Find information about preventing electrocutions and avoiding dangerous backfeed

Preventing and Treating Illness and Disease

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After a Disaster
  Find resources about carbon monoxide poisoning
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Flyers and Other Educational Materials
  Browse fact sheets and flyers about carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis
  Check out this report on protecting yourself from disease while on the job.

Clean Up After the Emergency

• MMWR: Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods
  Read this comprehensive report on health risks from mold and remediation.
• Interim Health Recommendations for Workers who Handle Human Remains After a Disaster
  Get advice on protecting yourself from disease during contact with human remains.
• Management of Dead Bodies in Disaster Situations
  Consult a manual from the Pan American Health Organization for specialists and authorities managing disaster sites.
• Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster
  Learn how to prevent injuries during tree removal after an emergency.
• Resuming Safe Operation of Building Water Systems – Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease
  Get information for building managers and engineers about preventing Legionnaires’ disease.
• Cleaning Flood-Contaminated HVAC Systems
  Find information for building owners and managers about cleaning HVAC systems after a flood.
• Hurricane Recovery Assistance
  Get facts from the Department of Labor about recovering after a hurricane.