TUC - Health and Safety Issues
in Flooded Areas
Advice to Safety Representatives - July
2007
The recent
floods will not only cost the economy billions of pounds, they will also have a
major and sometimes devastating impact on the lives, and the work, of hundreds
of thousands of people.
During the current period of flooding, many union members will be affected,
either in the workplace or their homes.
Employers have a legal duty to ensure that the health and safety of all
employees is protected during this period. It is not in anyone’s interests to
ask employees to risk their lives or health either through the effects of the
floods themselves, or the aftermath.
This guidance is intended to assist union representatives and members in
ensuring that the health and safety of employees is not put at risk as a result
of the current crisis. It is not intended to deal with the wider societal
issues, although unions are already heavily involved in supporting members in
those areas of the country where the flooding is most widespread.
In areas
where flooding still persists
Under no
circumstances should an employer ask anyone to travel in a flooded area unless
they are part of the emergency services, have been trained in how to deal with
such situations and have full support and back-up.
People should not drive in flooded areas unless they have to, and should never,
ever try to drive through floodwater. Not only is there the possibility that a
vehicle may be swept away, but floodwater is also likely to be contaminated with
sewage.
Nor should people attempt to walk or wade through floodwater. It is very easy to
be swept away by currents or come into contact with water contaminated with
sewage. In addition, even in very shallow still water there might be many
hazards underneath the surface, such as uncovered holes. The force of water
often removes manhole covers during floods.
If a building is surrounded by, or threatened by, floodwater then, if there is
any possibility of water getting into the premises, including basement areas,
gas and electricity in these areas should be turned off.
In some areas, a large number of premises are without water supply or
electricity, even beyond the area immediately flooded. Employees should not be
expected to work without an adequate supply of freshwater and sanitary
facilities. This would be contrary to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare)
Regulations. Workers in such premises should normally be sent home where it is
safe to do so. In certain emergency situations, or where workers have no water
or sanitary conditions at home, safety representatives should discuss
alternative arrangements. However, no workers should be expected to work in
buildings that are flooded.
After
the flooding subsides
Following
the flooding, safety representatives should meet with employers to make sure the
workplace is safe to be re-occupied. No building should be re-occupied until it
has been properly inspected and a risk assessment undertaken to ensure the
safety of all employees.
Buildings will not only need to be dried out, they will also have to be cleaned
and disinfected. Floodwater will contain not only silt but also sewage. All
surfaces that have been contaminated need to be properly cleaned and disinfected
as well as dried. Where employers use temporary portable gas or oil heaters to
dry premises, it is important to ensure they have sufficient ventilation and are
kept away from any flammable materials.
Following the flooding, any electrical equipment that may have been affected by
floodwater must not be used until it has been checked and verified as being safe
by a competent person. The electricity and gas supply should not be switched on
unless a competent person has also checked this.
If any materials, such as chemicals, are stored on the premises they may also
have been affected by water. In some cases this may mean that the composition of
the material has changed or hazardous materials may have spilled out. Safety
representatives should ensure that employers have verified that any material
that could become dangerous as a result of water damage has been checked and, if
necessary, disposed of safely.
External exits, in particular fire exits, should be checked to ensure that they
are usable before the building is reoccupied and fire alarms and emergency
lighting systems should be checked by a competent person before the premises are
used.
Support
for Staff
In these
parts of the country where flooding has occurred there are many workplaces which
have not been directly affected by floodwater but where the homes of some of the
employees are flooded or they have no water or electricity supply. Safety and
other union representatives should work with employers to make sure that such
employees are given as much support as possible. This could include access to
showers and washing facilities in the workplace on a temporary basis, time off,
or other support as required.
If you have any queries relating to any safety matters please seek advice from
your union.
Links
Advice from
the Health Protection Agency
http://www.hpa.org.uk/flooding/default.htm
Flood heath advice from NHS Direct
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=2284
Environment Agency advice on flooding
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/