Town of Rye
Worker Safety After a Flood
The danger of a flood does not end when the rains cease. Cleanup crews must work together and look out for one another to ensure safety.

First aid, even for minor cuts and burns, is very important during flood cleanup. Immediately clean out all open wounds and cuts with soap and clean water. Most cuts, except minor scratches, will require treatment to prevent tetanus. Talk to a doctor to find out what treatment you need.

For most work in flooded areas, workers will need hard hats, goggles, heavy work gloves, and watertight boots with steel toe and insole (not just steel shank).

Excessive noise from equipment such as chain saws, backhoes, tractors, pavement breakers, blowers, and dryers may cause ringing in the ears and subsequent hearing damage. If you must shout over noise to be heard, you should wear earplugs or other hearing protection devices.

For more information call 888-246-2675 or see NIOSH’s Storm and Flood Cleanup site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/flood.

For more information, visit www.bt.cdc.gov or call or call CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (English and Spanish) or 888-232-6348 (TTY).