After the Rain

Cleaners need to take extra precautions when working in flooded areas.

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Heavy rains over a short period led to massive flooding and the destruction of infrastructure around Duluth, Minn., in late June. While much of the rest of the country was dealing with worsening drought conditions, many in Duluth and the surrounding communities were dealing with flooded and contaminated homes.

Cleaners should be well aware of the necessary safety precautions for working in areas where the sewer has backed up, but floods bring additional concerns and require extra precautions. The OSHA Fact Sheet on flood cleanup outlines the following hazards for those in the cleaning industry.

Floodwater can disrupt water purification and sewage systems and sweep up toxic waste, chemicals and other contaminants previously stored above ground. Although most floods do not cause serious outbreaks of infectious disease or chemical poisonings, they can cause sickness in workers and others who come in contact with contaminated floodwater. In addition, flooded areas may contain electrical or fire hazards connected with downed power lines.

Floodwater often contains infectious organisms, including intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella; Hepatitis A Virus; and agents of typhoid, paratyphoid and tetanus. Most cases of sickness associated with flood conditions are caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. Tetanus, however, can be acquired from cuts, abrasions or puncture wounds simply coming in contact with contaminated soil or water. Tetanus is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system and causes severe muscle spasms, known as lockjaw. The symptoms may appear weeks after exposure and may begin as a headache, but later develop into difficulty swallowing or opening the jaw.

Floodwaters also may be contaminated by agricultural or industrial chemicals or other hazardous agents present at flooded sites. Although different chemicals cause different health effects, the signs and symptoms most frequently associated with chemical poisoning are headaches, skin rashes, dizziness, nausea, excitability, weakness and fatigue.

In addition to the dangers associated directly with contaminated water, pools of standing or stagnant water become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of encephalitis, West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases.

It is often difficult to maintain good hygiene during flood cleanup operations. To avoid waterborne disease, it is important to wash your hands with soap and clean, running water, especially before work breaks, meal breaks, and at the end of the work shift. Workers should assume that any water in flooded or surrounding areas is not safe unless the local or state authorities have specifically declared it to be safe. If no safe water supply is available for washing, use bottled water or water that has been chemically disinfected or boiled for at least 10 minutes. Water storage containers should be rinsed periodically with a household bleach solution.

If you or any of your employees experience any of the signs or symptoms listed above, it is important to seek out appropriate first-aid treatment and medical advice. If the skin is broken, particularly with a puncture wound or a wound in contact with potentially contaminated material, a tetanus vaccination may be needed if it has been five years or more since your last tetanus shot.

The OSHA Resources page has QuickCards and Fact Sheets that provide details about hazards present in flooded areas and after a flood has occurred. For more information, visit www.osha.gov



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