Post-Katrina Recovery Must Be Carefully Planned

Chubb offers a checklist to help business owners pick up the pieces after disasters strike.

Sept. 22, 2005 -- As business owners try to resume operations after Hurricane Katrina, they face the daunting tasks of assessing damage, preserving property, and addressing the needs of affected employees.

“When disaster strikes, there is a lot of work to be done, and many business owners may not know where to begin,? said Steven D. Hernandez, loss control manager for Chubb Commercial Insurance, in a statement.

But the right response may not be clear. “If business owners are not prepared for the potential risks, they could be creating a crisis within a crisis,? added Hernandez.

Chubb recommends the following first steps for companies to smooth recovery.

• Monitor daily changes in conditions and immediate dangers posted on the web sites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  
• Maintain frequent communications with employees.
  
  
• Arrange for trauma management support or other counseling resources for employees. The Center for Mental Health Services provides disaster relief and mental health resources.
  
  
• Verify the health, safety and security of your facility.
  
  
• Check with local code officials to identify building-code requirements for repairs, new construction, or demolition.
  
  
• Prioritize order of resuming operations, and identify obstacles such as downed utility lines, contamination, and building safety.
  
  
• Verify the operational state of key suppliers and subcontractors, and develop procedures for quickly procuring critical machinery, equipment, software and materials.
  
  
• Conduct a thorough facility assessment. The American Society of Safety Engineer News (ASSE) offers a business resumption safety checklist.
  
  
• Protect facilities from intruders and malicious mischief.
  
  
• Assess exposures in the event of unintended use or occupancy of the facilities (i.e., shelter). NIOSH Shelter Checklist details assessment criteria should facilities be used to house employees or other individuals.
  
  
• Recover vital records.
  
  
• Advise employees of any health, safety and security concerns within the facilities.
  
  
• Provide appropriate training for employees operating outside of their normal duties.
  
  
• Screen employees for risk factors such as heart conditions, asthma, compromised immune systems and allergies to mold and dust.
  
  
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment. NIOSH PPE for Flood Response Workers provides guidelines and warnings to flood cleanup workers. CDC Hand Hygiene in Emergency Situations details proper techniques for hand hygiene.
  
  
• Assess the additional hazards presented by flood cleanup activities. NIOSH Hazards of Flood Cleanup details the work-related hazards involved in flood cleanup activities. CDC Worker Safety After a Flood highlights safety issues after a flood. OSHA Flood Cleanup provides information on floodwater issues and how to protect oneself. OSHA Cleanup Hazards details cleanup procedures after a flood.
  
  
• Review CDC and EPA precautions for electrical hazards, fungi & mold, and carbon monoxide.

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