flash floods in Southwestern Missouri

KANSAS CITY, MO – In the midst of heavy rain and extensive floods in southwestern Missouri, the United States The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration advises employees and the general public to prevent potential dangers and learn how to defend themselves as clean-up efforts continue. Clean-up work may include restoring power, communications, water, and sewage services; finishing demolition; accessing flooded areas and clearing floodwater from buildings; removing the debris; trimming trees; fixing structures, roadways, and bridges; using cranes, aerial lifts, and other heavy machinery; responding to incidents and working among hazardous waste, and maintaining dams and levees.

These behaviors pose potential hazards, including the following,

• Illness caused by polluted water or food.
• There is a risk of overexposure or heat stress.
• Dangers of electrocution from downed electrical wires.
• The use of portable generators is concerned with carbon monoxide and electrical risks.
• Fall and hit-by risks are inherent in tree-trimming or operating at heights.
• Being trapped in unsafe excavations or enclosed areas.
• Burns, lacerations, and musculoskeletal fractures are all possible.
• When employed, being hit by cars or heavy machinery.
• During clean-up, there is a risk of drowning due to waves of flowing water.

All United States employees must comply with occupational safety and health standards regulated by Federal OSHA. OSHA 30 Construction is an online training course intended for workers with supervisory or managerial roles, which provides basic awareness and adequate knowledge about essential site safety topics as well as potential site hazards that workers are usually unaware of. The safety topics include but are not limited to Introduction to OSHA, OSHA Focus Four Hazards, Personal Protective Equipment, Materials Handling, Use, and Disposal, Ergonomics, and Concrete and Masonry Construction. Upon completing this online training, workers will receive the OSHA 30 card on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor. Simply put, this course not only builds the skills and proficiency of workers handling difficult situations but will also help their career build for the long run in the Construction Industry.