SafeWork NSW is advising people, including mine workers, who’re heading back to flooded sites to exercise caution as they could be exposed to health and safety risks such as contaminated water, broken glass and debris, damaged electricity supplies or asbestos.
Common hazards include sewage containing harmful bacteria that may have overflowed inside a building, wet, slippery and unstable surfaces, and wild animals including rodents, snakes and spiders.
“Workplaces inundated with contaminated floodwater must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and the importance of personal hygiene cannot be emphasised strongly enough,” SafeWork NSW assistant deputy secretary Trent Curtin said.
“Only use clean water to wash your hands and wear protective clothing to avoid cuts from glass and other sharp objects that may be floating in contaminated water.”
Workplaces should fully assess the risks involved during the cleanup and ensure any work is properly planned before entering flood-affected sites.
They should also follow all recommendations by emergency services agencies prior to starting the cleanup and ensure workers and volunteers are properly trained and have the appropriate safety equipment such as waterproof footwear, gloves and eye protection.
Workers should also take regular rest breaks to manage fatigue. Buildings and other structures damaged in a flood can leave health and safety hazards in the structure and debris.
If a flood-damaged building was built before 1990, it is likely to contain asbestos.
“Damaged gas and electrical appliances are another hazard and must be avoided until declared safe by an electrician or plumber,” Curtin said.
“If your workplace contains asbestos building materials, licensed asbestos contractors should be employed to undertake any repair and renovation.”
To support the cleanup process, SafeWork NSW is waiving the five-day asbestos removal work notification period to allow for the immediate clean-up of asbestos debris from storm-damaged properties.
SafeWork NSW strongly recommends engaging a licensed asbestos removalist to undertake the work to ensure adequate controls are in place to remove asbestos safely and minimise potential exposure.
In emergencies, trained professionals such as emergency services may carry out asbestos removal.
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