Prepare Your Workers for Hurricanes

Hurricane season officially starts next week, on June 1. Is your workplace prepared for hurricanes and other natural disasters?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above average hurricane season for 2022, with 14-21 named tropical systems expected to develop in the Atlantic basin.

Hurricanes are tropical systems with sustained winds of at least 74 mph while major hurricanes are storms with at least 111 mph. Among the expected tropical systems for 2022, NOAA projects six to 10 hurricanes, with three to six expected to be major storms.

Don’t be caught unprepared during a hurricane. Follow these tips from the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• Ensure that all workers know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Practice evacuation plans on a regular basis.
• Update plans and procedures based on lessons learned from exercises.

After a hurricane passes, danger remains in the form of flood water. Workers are at risk not only of drowning, but also of illness contracted through contaminated flood water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following tips for floodwater safety in its hurricane preparedness publication:

• Turn off all facility utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary.
• Gather emergency supplies, including flashlights, and battery-operated radios.
• Get to higher ground without driving through standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and two feet of water can cause your car to be swept away.