Part II NIOSH Warns of Hazards during Cleanup Work Following Forest Fires

3/27/2019 (Permalink)

Woolsey fire destroyed many homes and businesses.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns workers and volunteers of the potential dangers involved with cleanup operations following the devastation caused by forest fires.

Because the level of experience varies among these workers, cleanup crews must work together and look out for one another to ensure safety.

NIOSH urgently requests your assistance in disseminating the following warnings to all those involved in cleanup work following forest fires. The potential work-related hazards listed here are described below in greater detail: Confined Spaces, Power Line Hazards, Agricultural Hazards, Stress and Fatigue. Additional key resources on health and safety hazards related to fire fighting can be found on the NIOSH web site under the “spotlights” section titled “Fighting Wildfires” (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/firefighting/).

PREVENTION MEASURES

First Aid

First aid, even for minor cuts and burns, is extremely important. Immediately clean out all open wounds and cuts with soap and clean water. Most cuts, except minor scratches, sustained during cleanup activities will warrant treatment to prevent tetanus. If you are injured, contact a physician to determine the necessary type of treatment.

Protective Equipment

For most clean-up work activities, you will need the following personal protective equipment: hard hats, safety goggles, heavy work gloves, and watertight boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank). For information on what equipment you need for protection, contact your local OSHA office or NIOSH.

Excessive noise from equipment such as chain saws, backhoes, tractors, pavement breakers, blowers, and from heavy equipment (e.g., earth moving equipment, helicopters) may cause ringing in the ears and subsequent hearing damage. If working with any noise that you must shout over to be heard, you should wear earplugs or other hearing protection devices.

Working in Confined Spaces

If you are required to work in a boiler, furnace, pipeline, pit, pumping station, septic tank, sewage digester, storage tank, utility vault, well, silo, or similar enclosed structures, you should be aware of the hazards of working in confined spaces. A confined space has one or more of the following characteristics:

• limited openings for entry or exit;
• unfavorable natural ventilation; or
• is not designed for continuous worker occupancy.

Toxic gases, a lack of oxygen, or explosive conditions may exist in the confined area, resulting in a potentially deadly atmosphere. Because many toxic gases and vapors cannot be seen or smelled, never trust your senses to determine if safe entry is possible. Never enter a confined space unless you have been properly trained, even to rescue a fellow worker! If you need to enter a confined space and do not have the proper training and equipment, contact your local fire department for assistance.

Working On or Near Power Lines [Recommendations for Utility Workers ONLY]

Several workers have died of electrocution following natural disasters. Workers and employers must take extreme caution while attempting to restore power or clear areas near downed power lines. In one instance, a worker lost his life while removing trees from a de-energized power line that had been knocked down by a storm. While inspecting the completed work, the man stepped on the line and was electrocuted by "feedback" energy from a portable backup generator at a nearby gas station. Feedback energy occurs when a de-energized line becomes energized by a secondary power source.

Another worker died cleaning branches from a power line, following a storm. He was electrocuted after falling from a tree onto a line thought to be de-energized. Although the workers had opened a fused switch on a transformer, the line remained energized through another transformer.

If you are working on or near power lines, the following steps may save your life:

• Treat all power lines as energized until you have followed the required procedures for personally de-energizing and testing them with an appropriate testing device. Do not rely on "fuzzing" to determine if a power line has been de-energized. 
• Verifying that a line is not energized may not ensure your safety. You must also ground lines on both the load and supply sides of the work area. Grounding is necessary to protect you from the hazards of feedback electrical energy from a secondary power source, such as a portable generator. 
• When restoring power in underground vaults, added precautions are necessary to avoid explosion hazards. As vaults containing electrical connections are drained or pumped out, and energized, potentially explosive gases may form. If you are required to work in a utility vault, refer to the Confined Spaces section of this Fact Sheet.

RESPIRATORY HAZARDS

If you are involved in cleanup efforts you may be exposed to ash, soot and fire decomposition products that may cause irritation and other respiratory effects. Spoiled and/or wet vegetation and other organic/agricultural materials often grow large amounts of bacteria and mold during warm weather. Breathing these organisms and the organic dust produced may cause lung disease. Use proper engineering controls to exhaust and replenish adequate fresh air if working indoors. A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-type vacuum is recommended when cleaning surfaces contaminated with dust. The use of a typical household vacuum should be avoided since it will re-suspend the collected dust into the air. When exposure to dusts cannot be controlled or avoided, exposure can be reduced by routine use of a well-fitted NIOSH-certified air-purifying respirator (such as an N-95 or more protective respirator).

STRESS, LONG HOURS, AND FATIGUE MAY INCREASE THE RISKS FOR INJURY AND ILLNESS

Continued long hours of work, combined with emotional and physical exhaustion and losses from damaged homes and temporary job layoffs, can create a highly stressful situation for cleanup workers. Workers exposed to these stressful conditions have an increased risk of injury and emotional crisis, and are more vulnerable to stress-induced illnesses and disease. Emotional support from family members, neighbors, and local mental health professionals can help to prevent more serious stress-related problems in the difficult months ahead. People working in all phases of cleanup work can reduce their risks of injury and illness in several ways: 

• Set priorities for cleanup tasks and pace the work over several days (or weeks). Avoid physical exhaustion. 
• Resume a normal sleep schedule as quickly as possible. Get plenty of rest and take frequent rest breaks BEFORE exhaustion builds up. 
• Take advantage of disaster relief programs and services in your community. 
• Be alert to emotional exhaustion or strain. When family members and neighbors are unavailable for emotional support, consult professionals at community health and mental health centers.

For more information about these or other occupational safety and health topics contact NIOSH at:

1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)

Fax: 513: 533-8573

E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov

www.cdc.gov/niosh