OSHA News

OSHA unveils new flood and tornado cleanup and recovery Web page

(June 24, 2008)-- Employers and employees involved in cleanup and recovery activities following the Midwest floods and tornadoes will benefit from a new Web page at www.dol.gov posted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

"We encourage employers and employees to access this vital information targeted to the conditions in which they will be working," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr.

The floods and tornadoes recovery page features links to more than 40 fact sheets and easy-reference QuickCards® in English and Spanish with safety and health tips on hazards such as downed electrical wires, chain saws, general decontamination, and heat and sun, just to name a few. The information is easily accessible for downloading from the Web. Printed copies are available through local OSHA offices in the affected states (http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html).

The site also features links to public service announcements to inform employees about hazards related to cleanup and recovery. Additionally, there is a link to 29 individual task- and operation-specific activity sheets that help employers evaluate hazards and provide guidance on reducing employee exposures during disaster operations such as floodwater removal, utility restoration and building assessment, among others.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote 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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