How Do Morristown Flood Damage Professionals Assess and Control for Safety Hazards?

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is always available to meet your storm damage restoration needs.

SERVPRO Morristown Flood Restoration Experts Anticipate and Avoid Dangers to Occupants, Workers, and Your Home’s Structure

When your Morristown home suffers flood damage, a critical first step before commencing water damage remediation is a thorough safety hazard assessment. The assessment ensures immediate mitigation of flooding damage to affected structures and protects residents and technicians from harm during the project.

Why Is Safety During Flood Damage Restoration Essential?

It is not overly dramatic to realize that you and others could face injury or even death during a flooding event. Potential hazards for both the customer and SERVPRO workers include:

• Slip, trip, and fall
• Electrical shock or electrocution
• Contact with hazardous substances

What Happens During a Morristown Flood Safety Assessment?

SERVPRO’s storm-related flood damage safety checklist covers at least the following:

• Evaluating signs of trapped water -- sagging ceiling leaks, bulging walls, seeping at baseboards, or basement flooding
• Reviewing electrical hazards, including damaged or wet cords, water-filled light fixtures, and electrical boxes
• Locating dangerous debris or fixtures, many underwater
• Alerting SERVPRO management if asbestos, lead, or leaching chemicals appear present
• Scanning for mold growth 
• Categorizing the contaminant level of water -- flood water defines as the most contaminated, or Category 3 

How does SERVPRO Control the Environment and Adapt Water Removal and Drying in Response to Hazards?

The hazard inspection helps our project managers and crew chiefs prioritize tasks. Only when the workspace is deemed safe can emergency services for water damage and flooding begin. Expect:

• Warning signage or blocking off slick floors and spaces where structures seem vulnerable to collapse
• Controlled demolition to release trapped water -- punching or drilling holes preventing sudden collapse, and flood cuts to expose wet building cavities for water removal, cleaning, disinfection, and drying
• Covering hazards like carpeting tack strips to prevent puncture wounds
• Physical containment of work areas with 1.6 mil polyethylene and negative pressure air scrubbers
• Specially certified workers to manage biohazards like lead, asbestos, and sewage lawfully
• Wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) by SERVPRO crews

Safety hazard preparations are vital to successful flood damage restoration. Call SERVPRO of Hamblen County (423) 318-6733 to learn how we can help.