The U.S. will have little relief time in between the damage done by Hurricane Harvey, and the impending category-5 hurricane, Irma. Work sites across the country will have to face the aftermath of possible damage and flooding, which can be more hazardous to workers than the storm itself.

The most at-risk workers are those tasked with performing clean-up after a natural disaster. They may be exposed to the following:

Hazardous materials such as lead, asbestos, mold, or other chemicals
Fallen trees and power lines
Blood borne diseases
Mosquito borne diseases such as Zika
Structural destabilization

Hazardous materials have already caused serious damage in Texas post-Harvey. On Thursday, Aug. 31, a Texas chemical plant reported two explosions caused by hazardous materials.

The plant had previously been fined by OSHA for $110,000 due to health and safety infractions that could lead to “accidents, fires, explosions, and pollution.” An inspection found that Harvey’s floodwaters knocked out the power and backup generators at the plant. This disabled the refrigeration system that kept hazardous chemicals stable, which led to the explosions.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured. However, hazardous chemicals are the main threat the health and safety of workers after a natural disaster. That’s why OSHA has a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER). This standard addresses employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances and waste, and those who may be involved in the following operations:

Cleanup operations that are conducted at hazardous waste locations
Cleanup operations conducted at treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
Emergency response for releases of hazardous substances regardless of the location

Employees can only work these cleanup operations if they have completed HAZWOPER training. Training is based on the job and the degree of the hazard. It’s important to make sure that your employees have completed their HAZWOPER training, especially before a natural disaster.

No matter if your worksite contains hazardous materials or waste, OSHA requires employers to conduct a job hazard analysis (JHA) to find and address any potential hazards before commencing cleanup.

Medical surveillance testing is required on most every job site that contains hazardous materials, especially after a natural disaster. That’s why Worksite Medical sends its mobile medical units directly to your worksite to test your employees… so that you can focus on the tasks at hand. Stay compliant, and stay safe.