February 13, 2008—To help businesses and communities resume operations safely after the recent deadly storms, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offers the following business resumption safety tips.
- Find out if your employees are safe. Were any injured during the storms? If so, find a way to assist them and communicate this with your employees — follow your company emergency action plan.
- Once you have learned the facts involving any damage your business may have sustained, evaluate the next steps and communicate this with your employees, emergency personnel (city, state and federal), the community you do business in, your customers, vendors and other organizations you work with.
- Have the structural integrity of the building or facility validated by qualified professionals before anyone enters the facility.
- Contact the proper government agencies to get approval to resume occupancy of the building. Do not enter a facility or building unless the proper clearances have been attained.
- Implement your clean-up and business resumption processes in a safe and healthful manner. Provide training in proper selection and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your employees and yourself such as eyewear, gloves, and dust mask/respirators for cleaning.
- Make sure the atmosphere in the workplace environment is tested for asbestos and other chemical/toxic agents. Air quality is a key concern when restarting business operations.
- Have vents checked to assure that water heaters and gas furnaces are clear and operable. Dust and debris can stop or impede airflow decreasing its quality and healthfulness. Safely start-up heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which includes prior inspection of lines before energizing and pressurizing of the systems. Test your systems now after inspection or have a qualified specialist do so. Blow cold air through HVAC systems first, as opposed to warm air, as it can help prevent the growth of mold in duct systems.
More information on contingency preparedness can be found on the ASSE Web site. Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the oldest and largest safety society and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment.
