Remediation
Basic safe work habits on contaminated jobs
In plain English
On top of specific hazards like asbestos, sewage and confined spaces, the S500 lists everyday habits for anyone working in a contaminated area. No eating, drinking or smoking in the work area; take off protective gear and wash hands before breaks, meals, using the bathroom and going home; and shower at the end of the day.
Dirty protective clothing is bagged and thrown out before leaving containment and never carried from one area to another unprotected. Wear suitable gloves (latex, nitrile or chemical-resistant) in work areas and when handling bagged debris, with a tougher work glove over thin gloves to avoid cuts. Throw away damaged gloves, wash with soap and water, and check your hands. Treat any cut or scrape right away, especially around sewage, and use the buddy system in heat or isolated spaces.
Used disposable gloves go out with the contaminated debris. Every day starts with a tailgate meeting on the day's work and its safety issues. Workers wear PPE matched to the hazards found, including disposable coveralls with shoe covers, put on before entering the containment or work area; PPE is inspected before use and damaged clothing repaired or replaced. Crews should know the job's emergency plan and exits and where the emergency shower and eyewash are, report injuries to a supervisor as soon as possible, and follow the company safety program when someone is hurt.
Health matters too. The S500 suggests workers ask their own doctor about immunizations such as tetanus/diphtheria boosters and hepatitis A and B. People with weakened immune systems — from HIV, cancer, chemotherapy, transplants, steroid therapy or lung disease — face a higher risk of infection and are usually kept off restoration and remediation work in water-damaged buildings, and workers with conditions of concern, including pregnancy, should get a physician's opinion first.
The rest of the safety chapter is about the crew's own bodies and equipment: following vehicle-safety law and training drivers; ergonomically sound tools and truck layouts, and aids such as furniture sliders, because shoulders, elbows, knees and backs take a beating; and training in proper lifting, with stretching before, during and after a shift. Heaters and dehumidifiers can get hot enough to damage materials and contents, so manufacturers' instructions and safety precautions must be followed to avoid fire and harm to occupants. Direct-fired heaters may only be used with adequate ventilation because of carbon monoxide; indirect-fired heaters in an occupied area must have their exhaust ducted outdoors; and the air should be monitored for carbon monoxide whenever combustion equipment is running.
These are good habits for homeowners doing a small cleanup too — especially the carbon monoxide rule: never run a fuel-burning heater or generator indoors.
Key points
- No eating, drinking or smoking in the work area.
- Gear off and hands washed before breaks; shower after work.
- Bag contaminated clothing before leaving containment.
- Double gloves; treat cuts at once, especially with sewage.
- Buddy system in heat or isolated spaces.
- Daily tailgate safety meeting; inspect PPE before use.
- Immunocompromised workers usually stay off these jobs; ask a doctor about tetanus and hepatitis shots.
- Fuel-burning heaters: ventilate, duct exhaust outdoors, monitor for carbon monoxide.
Official text
This topic is covered in our own words because the standard behind it is copyrighted; we cite it below rather than reproduce it.
Citations
- IICRC S500, ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration — Sec. 8.13, Safe Work Practices in Contaminated Environments, pp. 36–37. Best practice
- IICRC S500, ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration — Secs. 8.14–8.18, immunizations and health effects awareness, vehicle safety, ergonomics, lifting, heat-producing equipment cautions, pp. 37–38. Best practice