Victorians in flood-affected areas are being urged to look out for unexpected hazards and fully assess the risks involved when commencing any clean-up activities.
Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe, Narelle Beer said contaminated water, broken glass and debris, damaged electricity supplies and asbestos were among the risks to health and safety facing those returning to flooded worksites.
“Employers must ensure work is properly planned and coordinated with regular communication, sufficient training and supervision for workers and volunteers, and regular rest breaks to manage fatigue,” Dr Beer said.
“When cleaning up after a flood, workers must be equipped with appropriate protective clothing such as sturdy, waterproof boots, heavy duty gloves and eyewear,” she said.
“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.”
Dr Beer said workplaces inundated with contaminated floodwater must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
She also stressed the importance of personal hygiene, saying that only water which had been boiled or disinfected should be used to wash hands.
“Wear protective clothing to avoid cuts from glass and other sharp objects that may be floating in contaminated water,” the Executive Director said.
“Damaged gas and electricity appliances are another hazard,” she said.
“They must be avoided until declared safe by an electrician or plumber.”
Dr Beer advised people to use battery-operated torches instead of candles as open flames could be dangerous if gas had collected inside a building.
She said licensed asbestos contractors should be employed to undertake any repair or renovation on damaged workplaces that contained asbestos building materials.
