If
a hurricane has swept through your neighborhood and hit part or most
of your residential property, then you need to get things cleaned up
as quickly as possible. While cleaning up quickly matters, safety is
the most important consideration. The information here provides you
with safety tips so you can clean your property while avoiding
serious injuries and other safety hazards.
Rent
a Dumpster
Start
your clean up by renting a dumpster. You're going to need that
dumpster to throw away a lot of debris. If you see the dumpster is
filling up quickly before the job is completed, have the dumpster
rental company come empty the dumpster for you, so you can continue
with the clean up without down time.
Work
in Good Lighting
Work
while the daylight is up, and visibility is good. Working with proper
lighting decreases the chance of being injured on something you
couldn't see. Even working with floodlights after dark is more
dangerous because a lot of shadows will be cast that may prevent you
from seeing something dangerous.
Wear
Safety Gear
Wear
work boots to protect you from sharp pieces of glass, nails, screws,
and other sharp objects that can penetrate through the bottom of
regular shoes. Work boots also protect you from twisting and injuring
your ankle. Make sure the work boots fit correctly, or they may
create a tripping hazard when climbing on areas that aren't level.
Wear thick leather work gloves, denim pants, safety goggles, and a
hard hat.
Stay
Away From Downed Power Lines
Should
you find a downed power line anywhere near where you are working,
stop working immediately and call the electric company. Don't start
working again until you have been assured with 100% accuracy that you
are no longer in danger.
Don't
Light a Lighter or Matches
When
you clean up your property, refrain from lighting a lighter or
matches. You won't know if there is a damaged propane tank buried
under the debris or even a broken gas line nearby. For this same
reason, refrain from smoking cigarettes while you are working.
Have
a Fire Extinguisher Nearby
Always
be on the lookout for smoldering fires underneath rubble, while you
clean. Fires can smolder for good periods of time without being
visible. When you move things around, you can give the fire more
oxygen and the fire grows quickly.
Stay
Out of Damaged Buildings
Do
not enter your damaged residence until the house has been inspected
for safety issues. Entering the home and moving things around in an
unstable environment can lead to many hazards one of which includes
the house collapsing on you.
Prevent
Dehydration
Drink
plenty of water, take breaks, and spend some time resting in the
shade. Alternate the water you drink with a sports drink to help
replace some lost electrolytes. This is going to help to prevent you
from getting dehydrated.
Throw
Away Everything You Can
Toss
out all soaked items to avoid water damage and mold from spreading.
Throw out everything that is trash and not salvageable. Pick out the
recyclable items and set them to the side. Know what can and cannot
be put into the dumpster you have rented.
Some
examples of things you can't toss into the dumpster include
batteries, motor oil, wood stain, paint, paint stripper, and cleaning
chemicals. These things are considered toxic waste and need to be
disposed of separately.
Rent
Your Dumpster Now
As
soon as you know when you will be cleaning up your property, call
ESP Dumpsters
and set up a date for us to deliver your rental dumpster. We will
come drop your rental dumpster off, empty the dumpster when you need
the dumpster emptied, and pick the dumpster up as soon as you let us
know you are finished, or on the agreed upon date.
