The agency urges caution as communities continue to face power outages, structural damage, and storm debris.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has urged emergency response crews and residents in areas affected by Hurricane Helene to be mindful of hazards such as power outages, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris. Recovery efforts often involve dangerous tasks like restoring power, clearing debris, repairing roofs, and trimming trees.
OSHA also emphasizes the importance of proper training, equipment use, and safety protocols, including evaluating work areas for hazards, using fall protection, assuming all power lines are live, and wearing protective gear like gloves, hard hats, and eye protection.
“As our region seeks to restore our communities after a weather emergency like Hurricane Helene, it is important to remember the wide range of hazards storm recovery presents, particularly for emergency responders and recovery workers,” explained OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. “The risk of injuries and fatalities during cleanup can be reduced with knowledge, safe work practices and using proper personal protective equipment. Our safety professionals are ready to assist with questions about reducing hazards in the wake of this catastrophic storm.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Regional Administrator Petermeyer and other OSHA officials as they seek to ensure the safety of emergency crews.
- For military and civilian personnel and first responders as they continue search and rescue missions in the wake of the hurricane.
Sources: Department of Labor
