Floods

Staying safe during and after floods

Working during floods and storms can be hazardous. Lightning, hail, wind and water can cause significant harm to workers as well as property.

While it is important that clean-up and recovery activities begin as soon as possible following a flood or storm, employers and workers involved in these activities must remember that their obligations under work health and laws still apply.

During and after heavy rainfall events and floods, you should always:

• listen to your local radio station for further warnings and advice
• keep an eye out for any fallen or dangerous trees or powerlines
• stay away from electrical signs, streetlights, electrical cables or other conductive material.

You should also not:

• touch switchboards if they have been damaged by water
• do your own electrical work — it is illegal and dangerous.

The information on this webpage outlines these hazards and responsibilities in detail.

Employer’s responsibilities

Employers should:

• keep workers informed of severe weather warnings, flood watch and flood warnings and emergency evacuation orders. Check out Tas Alerts  for the latest flood warnings and updates
• evacuate workers early from at-risk locations
• ask workers to avoid driving, riding, walking or swimming through flood water
• keep workers inside, in fully enclosed buildings that have electricity or plumbing that ground lightning (as electricity and plumbing fixtures conduct electricity more efficiently). Alternatively, keep inside enclosed metal cars, trucks or vans. Unsafe shelters include but are not limited to covered picnic shelters, carports, tents, soft-top and topless vehicles
• ensure workers inside a building or enclosed shelter stay away from electrical appliances and plumbing fixtures
• ensure workers inside a vehicle roll up the windows and avoid contact with any conducting paths leading to the outside of the vehicle (radios, ignition)
• ask workers to control electrical risks by turning off power points, unplugging electrical equipment and avoiding landline telephones, powerlines, trees, watercourses and flooded rooms that may have electricity
• instruct workers to follow your emergency plans and procedures.

Engaging a specialist contractor

Some flood and storm clean-up and recovery activities may require you to call upon specialist contractors to undertake specific work.

This does not absolve you of your work health and safety duties as an employer. You must consult, cooperate and coordinate with the contractor to ensure your work, and the contractor’s work, does not put any workers at risk of harm.

Where you rely on a contractor with technical expertise, you must ensure they:

• have the necessary expertise for the work and their own systems in place for carrying out the work safely
• are carrying out the work safely as per their own stated procedures (and not putting others at risk).

You must also continue to consult, coordinate and cooperate with the contractor, and provide appropriate instruction.

Keeping workers aware and safe

Everyone involved in clean-up and recovery activities must be made aware of potential dangers and safety precautions. You must provide information, inductions and training before any work begins.

A briefing or induction should explain:

• personal safety matters such as hydration, hygiene, breaks and fatigue
• existing and potential hazards and the proper safety precautions, including identifying and responding to dangerous situations
• health and safety procedures such as providing instruction for any equipment they may be using
• how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) provided
• the tasks workers will be undertaking (noting that workers should not be asked to carry out work that they do not have the knowledge and skills to do or are not licensed to do)
• directions received from authorities such as emergency services, health, and state and local governments
• how they can report any health or safety concerns, injuries or illnesses that may occur while undertaking clean-up and recovery work
• emergency procedures and how to access first aid treatment.

Risk management

Before attempting any clean up and recovery work in a flood or storm affected area, it is important that you assess the potential for workers and other people to be exposed to risks associated with the hazardous environment they will be working in.

As an employer, you must:

• be proactive and think about what could go wrong and what the consequences could be
• eliminate or minimise the health and safety risks, where reasonably practicable.

You should use the four steps of risk management to assess if workers or others may be exposed to risk as a result of the work activity:

• identify the hazards
• assess the level of risk: the likelihood of exposure to the hazard, and the consequences (what harm could be done)
• control the risk: identify and implement a control plan
• review the control measures: determine the effectiveness of the implemented control and make sure you have not introduced a new risk.

Read more about the fours steps of risk management.

You must consult with your workers and their health and safety representatives at each step of the risk management process. The workers’ experience, knowledge and ideas will assist employers to identify all hazards and choose effective control measures.

Read more about consultation.

Planning

As part of your planning for clean-up and recovery work, you should consider what could go wrong during the clean-up and recovery; and ensure:

• electricity clearance has been given before attempting to use the electricity
• any likely asbestos containing materials or hazardous chemicals are identified
• tools and equipment needed to do the work safely have been identified and checked for working order
• people required to operate the equipment have the right skills, competencies and licences (if required)
• adequate supervision is provided for less skilled workers (especially for volunteers)
• people who will do the work are not fatigued
• there is appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) available, including rubber-soled shoes, gloves, hats, sunscreen, sun protective clothing and high visibility vests (see below for more information about PPE)
• workers know how to use PPE correctly
• appropriate first aid, clean drinking water, hand hygiene measures are available and there is access to medical treatment if there is an injury.

Asbestos

Asbestos-containing materials may be found during the clean-up of buildings damaged by floods.

When asbestos containing products are damaged, small fibres may be released into the air. These fibres are harmful if inhaled and may lead to asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.

You should use a licensed asbestos removalist is used to remove any amount of asbestos.

Read more about being asbestos safe.

Find a licensed asbestos removalist.

Biological hazards

Workers involved with the clean-up and recovery following floods and storms may be exposed to infection risks from contact with contaminated water, soil and mud.

Where possible, avoid contact with floodwater, mud and soil as it may contain germs that can cause infection, or debris that can cause injury resulting in infection. If contact is unavoidable, use machinery such as excavators or backhoes to move debris.

Workers should maintain good personal hygiene. You should always:

• wash your hands after contact with mud, flood water and contaminated items and equipment
• wear enclosed footwear, protective eyewear, gloves, and suitable clothing
• take precautions to avoid mosquito bites
• clean and cover cuts and wounds.

The following information provides further general guidance on reducing infection risks from clean-up and recovery work.

Facilities

Employers must provide workers with adequate facilities so they can maintain good hygiene at work. These facilities must:

• be clean, safe and accessible
• include washing facilities, potable drinking water, eating facilities and toilets.

First aid

Everyone involved in the clean-up and recovery should be made aware of the location of first aid personnel, facilities and equipment, and how to access them.

In the event of a serious injury or illness, quick access to a first aid kit is vital. First aid kits should be kept in a prominent, accessible location and able to be retrieved promptly. Access should also be ensured in security-controlled workplaces. First aid kits should be located close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness.

Read more about first aid.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Everyone involved in clean-up and recovery work will require suitable PPE to prevent injuries such as cuts, scratches, lacerations and infections from debris and contaminated water.

As a minimum, workers (including volunteers) should be encouraged to wear protective clothing such as long sleeve shirts and pants and suitable enclosed footwear. Specific PPE for the relevant clean-up and recovery must be provided and paid for by the employer.

Examples of PPE that employers may need to be provided, by the employer, to prevent injury and illness include:

• hearing protective devices, such as earmuffs and ear plugs
• respiratory protective equipment
• eye and face protection, such as safety glasses and face shields
• safety helmets
• fall arrest harnesses for working at heights
• skin protection, such as gloves, gauntlets and sunscreen
• clothing, such as high visibility vests, life jackets and coveralls
• footwear, such as safety boots and rubber boots.

You must also ensure workers know how to use PPE correctly.

Electrical and gas safety

Electricity can kill or severely injure people and cause damage to property.

Do not do your own electrical work at any time, under any circumstances, especially during or after a flood or storm. Engage a licensed electrician to complete electrical works.

Electrical plant or equipment should not be used when at risk of exposure to water.

Any damage to gas tanks or cylinders (such as dents or gouges) will affect the cylinder’s integrity. Damage may not be visible or obvious. If you have damaged tanks or cylinders, contact your gas supplier to check for damage..

If water has entered your property, do not put the electricity or gas back on until the property wiring has been tested by a licensed electrician and your gas installation has been checked by a licensed gasfitter.

Read more about gas and electrical safety and generator safety in our bushfires page.

Machinery

Operating wheeled or tracked machinery can be dangerous in flood affected areas. Before operating plant in flood-affected areas, operators should always:

• be aware of changed ground conditions which may increase the risk of roll over, bogging or instability
• operate machinery at a safe speed suitable to the conditions
• do not allow untrained, inexperienced or, if relevant, unlicensed people to operate machinery.

Mental health and wellbeing

Following an emergency or disaster situation, many people have strong emotional or physical reactions. These can include strong feelings of helplessness, grief or anger, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, or changes in behaviours such as increased alcohol consumption or being quick to anger.

Most people will experience reactions during and following the event; for some, the emotional impacts may surface days, weeks or months after the event.

These reactions are a normal part of the recovery process.

The mental health of workers who are either directly or indirectly affected by floods and storms is an important consideration for employers. As an employer, you can reduce the risk of psychological stress on your workers by:

• promoting and encouraging use of counselling services (see below)
• consulting with workers when setting realistic work targets, deadlines and priorities for clean up and recovery works
• consulting with workers about any changes to their roles, work tasks and broader business changes, and where possible allow their input in decision making
• holding regular worker/team discussions on additional pressures and challenges
• providing 'time out' areas for workers to distance themselves and take breaks from demanding work tasks
• recognising and rewarding workers for their efforts.

If you don’t have an employee assistance program, you and your workers can access these confidential support services:

• Beyond Blue : 1300 22 4636
• Lifeline : 13 11 4
• MensLine Australia : 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline : 1800 551 800.

Mould

As flood waters recede, you may find significant mould growth in parts of a building that have been flooded or exposed to high humidity levels.

Before cleaning or removing any mould growth, read more information about the dangers of mould and how to treat it at the Department of Health’s website.