Essential Elements of a Work Plan
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Develop and periodically re-examine and update work plan as new
information about site conditions is obtained.
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Review
available information, including:
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Any
previous Site records
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Waste inventory
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Initial qualitative sampling and monitoring
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Site
photos
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Develop work objectives.
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Determine methods for accomplishing the objectives: e.g., inventory,
search and rescue, recovery, disposal, record keeping.
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Determine personnel requirements.
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Determine the need for additional personnel.
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Determine equipment requirements.
Site Safety Checklist
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Assign
key personnel and alternates responsible for site safety.
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Describe risks associated with each operation conducted.
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Confirm that personnel are adequately trained to perform jobs.
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Assign
key person to handle volunteers.
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Describe the protective clothing and equipment to be worn by personnel
during site operations.
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Describe site-specific medical surveillance requirements.
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Describe needed air monitoring, personnel monitoring, and environmental
sampling.
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Describe actions to be taken to mitigate existing hazards (e.g.,
containment) to make work environment less hazardous.
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Define
site control measures (e.g., secure the area) and include a site map.
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Establish decontamination procedures for personnel and equipment.
Field Team Leader Checklist
Select a Field team
leader who will:
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Insure
volunteer information is obtained: name, address, phone, and social
security number of workers for follow-up.
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Enforce site control.
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Oversee in the on-site rapid training of volunteers on safety, Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), hazards, emergency procedures.
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Enforce the buddy system.
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Notify
site safety officer or supervisor of unsafe conditions.
Potential Hazards and General Recommendations
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HAZARD 1: Massive piles of construction and
other types of debris, unstable work surfaces
Risks: Traumatic injuries, including serious fall injuries, from
slips trips and falls or collapsing materials.
General Recommendations:
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Ensure that surfaces are stable as possible.
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Use
alternative methods, such as bucket trucks, to access work surfaces that
are unstable.
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Ensure scaffolding is erected on a stable surface; anchor scaffolding to
a structure capable of withstanding the lateral forces generated.
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Ensure that workers have a full array of PPE, including safety shoes
with slip resistant soles.
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Ensure that workers use fall protection equipment with lifelines tied
off to suitable anchorage points, including bucket trucks, whenever
possible.
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HAZARD 2: Excessive Noise
Risks: Communication and temporary hearing loss.
General Recommendations:
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Use
hearing protection devices whenever noisy equipment (e.g., saws,
earth-moving equipment, Hurst tools) is used. This will prevent
temporary hearing loss that can interfere when listening for cries,
moans, and other sounds from victims buried in the rubble.
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HAZARD 3: Breathing Dust containing asbestos
(from pulverized insulation and fireproofing materials) and silica (from
pulverized concrete), which are toxic
Risks:
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Short term: irritation of eye, nose, throat, and lung.
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Long
term: Chronic effects may depend on the extent and the duration of
exposure.
General Recommendations:
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Workers should be protected from breathing dust.
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Respiratory protection: An N-95 or greater respiratory protection is
acceptable for most activities, including silica and portland cement
dust.
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If
there is reason to believe there is an asbestos exposure, at not more
than 10 times the safe level, use a half mask elastomeric respirator
with N,R, or P-100 series filters.
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If
airborne contaminants are causing eye irritation, full face respirators
with P-100 OV/AG combination cartridges should be used.
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Respirators must fit properly to protect workers.
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Surgical masks should not be used because they do not provide adequate
protection.
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Dust
concentrations in the air must be appropriately monitored.
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If
dust concentrations are elevated, limit entry to only person with
adequate respiratory protection.
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If
symptoms of chest pain or chest tightness are present, or if shortness
of breath, or rapid breathing persists following a rest break, then
medical attention should be sought.
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HAZARD 4: Heat Stress from wearing
encapsulating/insulating bunker gear or doing heavy work in a hot, humid
climate
Risks: Significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to
clinical dehydration, raised core body temperature, impaired judgement,
disorientation, fatigue, and heat stroke.
General Recommendations:
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Adjust work schedules, rotate personnel, add additional personnel to
work teams.
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Replenish fluids (1 cup water/sports drink every 20 minutes) and food
(small frequent carbohydrate meals).
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Monitor heart rate. If over 180 beats per minute minus age for more than
a few minutes, stop work and rest immediately.
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Provide frequent medical evaluation for symptoms and signs of heat
stress, such as altered vital signs, confusion, profuse sweating,
excessive fatigue.
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Provide shelter in shaded areas and the ability to unbutton and remove
bunker gear.
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HAZARD 6: Potential Chemical Exposures from
Fire Scene
Exposure to the following chemicals must be anticipated:
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Metals (dust and fume)
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Hydrogen cyanide
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Inorganic acids (particularly sulfuric acid)
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Aldehydes (including formaldehyde)
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PAHs
(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
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Benzo(a)anthracene
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Benzo(b)fluoranthene
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Benzo(a)pyrene
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VOCs
(volatile organic chemicals)
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Aliphatic hydrocarbons
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Acetone
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Acetic acid
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Ethyl acetate
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Isopropanol
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Styrene
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Benzene
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Touene
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Xylene
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Furfural
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Phenol
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Napthalene
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PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyls) may be present in older buildings with
electrical equipment manufactured prior to 1977
Risks: Eye, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract, and skin
irritation; flu like symptoms; central nervous system depression,
fatigue, loss of coordination, memory difficulties, sleeplessness,
mental confusion. Chronic effects depend on the extent and the duration
of exposure.
General Recommendations:
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Fire Fighting: Use self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with
full face piece in pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
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Entry into unknown concentration: Use SCBA gear.
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Rescue operations with fumes present: Use gas mask with front
mounted organic vapor canister (OVC) or any chemical cartridge
respirator with an organic vapor cartridge.
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Dusty environments: Use combination HEPA/OVC.
Warning! A surgical or a dust mask will not protect you from chemical
vapors.
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HAZARD 7: Traumatic Stress after horrific
events
Risk: Depression, grief, and inability to function.
General Recommendations:
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Rescue Workers must receive counseling. Early intervention is important.
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Continued follow-up and counseling of workers to prevent chronic
responses.
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Hazard 8: Electrical, overhead power lines,
downed electrical wires, cables
Risk: Electrocution.
General Recommendations:
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Use
appropriately grounded low-voltage equipment.
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Hazard 9: Carbon Monoxide Risk from
gasoline- or propane-powered generators or heavy machinery
Risk: Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea; progressing to
vomiting, loss of consciousness, and collapse, coma or death under
prolonged or high exposures.
General Recommendations:
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Use
CO warning sensors when using or working around combustion sources.
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Shut
off engine immediately if symptoms of exposure appear.
Warning! Do not
use gasoline generators or portable fuel driven tools in confined spaces
or poorly ventilated areas.
Warning! Do not work in areas near exhaust (CO poisoning occurs
even outdoors if engines generate high concentrations of CO and worker
is in the area of the exhaust gases). With symptoms of exposure, shut
off the engine.
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Hazard 10: Eye Injuries from dust, flying debris,
blood
Risk: Blood borne pathogen infection, eye injury.
General Recommendations:
Protective
Eyewear:
- Use
goggles or face shield and mask for those handling human remains,
recovering deceased. Make sure to cover the nose and mouth to protect
the skin of the face and the mucous membranes.
- Use
safety glasses with side shields as a minimum by all workers. An eye
wear retainer strap is suggested.
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Consider safety goggles for protection from fine dust particles, or for
use over regular prescription eye glasses.
- Any
worker using a welding torch for cutting needs special eye wear for
protection from welding light, which can cause severe burns to the eyes
and surrounding tissue.
- Only
use protective eyewear that has an ANSI Z87 mark on the lenses or
frames.
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Hazard 11:
Flying debris; particles; handling a variety of sharp, jagged materials
Risk: Traumatic injuries, ranging from minor injuries requiring
first-aid to serious, even disabling or fatal traumatic injury.
General Recommendations:
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Use safety
glasses with side shields as a minimum. An eye wear retainer strap is
suggested.
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Consider
safety goggles for protection from fine dust particles, or for use over
regular prescription eyeglasses.
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Any worker
using a welding torch for cutting needs special eye wear for protection
from welding light, which can cause severe burns to the eyes and
surrounding tissue.
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Only use
protective eyewear that has an ANSI Z87 mark on the lenses or frames.
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Educate
workers regarding safe work procedures before beginning work.
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Provide
workers with a full array of personal protective equipment, including
hard hats, safety shoes, eye glasses, and work gloves.
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Ensure that
workers do not walk under or through areas where cranes and other heavy
equipment are being uses to lift objects.
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Hazard 12:
Work with numerous types of heavy equipment, including cranes, bucket
trucks, skid-steer loaders, etc.
Risks: Traumatic injury, including serious and fatal injuries, due
to failure or improper use of equipment, or workers being struck by
moving equipment.
General Recommendations:
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Train
workers to operate equipment correctly and safely.
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Ensure
operators are aware of the activities around them to protect workers on
foot from being struck by moving equipment.
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Ensure
operators do not exceed the load capacity of cranes and other lifting
equipment.
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Ensure that
workers do not walk under or through areas where cranes and other heavy
equipment are being used to lift objects.
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Ensure that
workers do not climb onto or ride loads being lifted or moved.
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Hazard 13:
Rescuing Victims, Recovering Deceased, Handling Human Remains, Contact
with surfaces contaminated with blood and body fluids
Risk: Blood, bloody fluids, body fluids, and tissues are potential
sources of blood-borne infections from pathogens including Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C, and HIV.
Route of exposure: Through the skin via a cut or puncture wound;
through mucous membranes (eye, nose, mouth); through non-intact skin
(dermatitis/rashes, injuries, abrasions).
General Recommendations:
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Standard
precautions (Universal precautions) should be strictly observed
regardless of time since death. Workers who will have direct contact
with the victims, bodies, or surfaces contaminated with blood or body
fluids should use universal precautions including:
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Use
heavy-duty work gloves (such as leather) to protect against injury
from sharp objects.
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Use
appropriate barrier protection when handling potentially infectious
materials. These barriers include latex gloves (preferably
powder-free latex gloves with reduced latex protein content) and
nitrile gloves. These gloves can be worn under the heavy-duty
gloves. Workers should be aware that individuals can develop
allergic reactions to latex gloves which can result in respiratory
problems (asthma), hives, and skin rashes. Those with known latex
allergies should use nitrile gloves.
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Use eye
protection (goggles or face shield) and mask covering the nose and
mouth to protect the skin of the face and the mucous membranes.
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Use
protective clothing to protect exposed skin surfaces.
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Immediately after removing gloves or other protective equipment, wash
hands with soap and water.
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Specific
Recommendations: If an injury or an exposure to blood, body fluids,
or tissue were to occur, the following should be carried out:
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Report
injuries or blood/body fluid exposures to the appropriate supervisor
immediately.
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File an
occupational exposure report.
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Wash
wounds and skin sites that have been in contact with blood or body
fluids with soap and water; mucous membranes should be flushed with
water; eyes should be rinsed with an irrigant marketed for that
purpose or with clean water.
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The
application of caustic agents (e.g., bleach) or the injection of
antiseptics or disinfectants into the wound is not recommended.
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The
worker should be seen by a health care professional as soon as
possible for evaluation and counseling.
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The
health care professional should follow guidelines as listed in the
following reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Updated US Public health Service Guidelines for the Management of
Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for
Postexposure Prophylaxis. MMWR 2001;50(No. RR-11) - online at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/guide/phspep.htm. In addition, the
University of California, Los Angeles and CDC have developed an
interactive website (http://www.needlestick.mednet.ucla.edu)
to help guide clinicians in making decisions about post-exposure
care.
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Clinicians also are encouraged to consult experts via the free 24/7
National Clinicians' Needlestick Hotline for advice about assessing
and managing treatment of exposures to blood and other body fluids
at 888-488-4911 (toll free) or 415-469-4417 (back-up).
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