Flood health and safety
Natural disasters and severe weatherFlood workers should be warned that when the seemingly endless rain tapers off and the flood waters recede, they will continue to face a number of hazards associated with cleanup activities.
Helping employers to prepare for emergenciesUnder the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation — specifically sections 4.13 through 4.16 and Part 32 on emergency preparedness, response, evacuation, and rescue — all employers are expected to plan, prepare, and train their employees for all emergencies.
Gas and electrical equipment safety in floodsThere are serious gas and electrical safety implications to consider if you are living or working in an area experiencing flooding.
Floods: prevention, preparedness, response, and recoveryClimate change is driving an increase in daily extreme precipitation in Canada, which when combined with other landscape factors, such as urbanization, deforestation, and loss of wetlands, can result in flood events.
Flood preparedness and responseIn the aftermath of a flood, workers may be involved in a variety of response and recovery operations. The following are general guidelines that may be applicable to workers involved in assessing and/or cleaning up the damage to their worksite.
Flood zones are danger zones: Be aware of the risksFlood zones can pose a number of hazards as people evacuate, and when they return to their homes, farms, or businesses following a flood. Some of these hazards may be difficult to spot.
Flood zones are danger zonesBe aware of the risks before re-entering a flood zone. Learn about some key hazards to be aware of when entering a flood zone.
HealthlinkBC | Flooding and your healthFlooding can affect your health and safety in a number of ways. You may be required to evacuate if flooding is close to your home.
Fraser Health | Protect yourself against disease and injury when working in flood-affected areasStay out of flood-affected areas until local emergency officials have given clearance to re-enter. Make sure someone knows where you are going, when you should be checking in, and getting back.
Fraser Health | Flood information for food premisesOperators need to develop an emergency response plan to anticipate problems and possible solutions to help protect their facility, and reduce damage to their equipment, inventory and operation.