As we have seen the news in Southern California, wildfires have been devastating the communities in the area. Wildfires can spread quickly and unpredictably, so it’s critical to prepare ahead of time. In this topic, we’ll cover a handful of ways to prepare and stay safe during wildfires.
Protect Your Home
Clear your yard of any leaves, brush and other flammable materials. If you have trees and any other gardening plants and flowers in your backyard, make sure you trim them regularly. Keep an emergency kit at home that’s easy to grab and go, with water, non-perishable food, medicine, first aid, and other important documents, such as your passport and birth certificate.
Have A Plan
Figure out evacuation routes from your home and neighborhood and practice drills. Do you have family or friends that live relatively close but far away enough from the fires where you can stay? Download apps such as Watch Duty to stay informed on developments and any alerts from fire agencies.
Evacuate
If you get an order to evacuate, leave immediately. Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, pants, and closed toe shoes to protect against heat. Make sure that your car has enough gas, phones are charged, and you’ve loaded your emergency kit.
Post-Fire Recovery & Safety
Authorities will let you know when it’s safe to return home. Make sure to approach with caution when you return home as there may still be hot spots or homes may have weakened structures that could collapse. Check the air quality and use a mask or air purifiers if needed.
In conclusion, it’s never too early to prepare for emergencies. Keep these tips in mind for the future and save this link for future use. Remember to add us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for tips like these that you can share with friends and family. We have previously worked with firefighters in the area and cover these same tips in part of our HAZWOPER training. Check our website for our current schedule of training for both HAZWOPER and CPR, or contact (800) 949-4473 or e-mail info@etac-online.com for more information.
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) is a set of regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. HAZWOPER aims to prevent and minimize the possibility of worker injury and illness resulting from potential exposures to hazardous substances.
The Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 required OSHA to issue regulations protecting workers engaged in hazardous waste operations. OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910.120; and construction 29 CFR 1926.65) established health and safety requirements for employers engaged in these operations, as well as responses to emergencies involving releases of hazardous substances. Cal OSHA regulations on Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response is found in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulation §5192. HAZWOPER requires that employers follow specific work policies, practices, and procedures to protect their workers potentially exposed to hazardous substances. The standards provide the information and training criteria necessary to ensure workplace health and safety during hazardous waste, emergency response, and cleanup operations involving hazardous substances.
The OSHA HAZWOPER Standard requires all workers that are exposed to or handle hazardous materials to take an initial 24-hour or 40-hour HAZWOPER Training Course and an 8HR Annual Refresher Course. Please review ETAC’s website for the next available date of the course you need to attend. Feel free to reach out via e-mail to info@etac-online.com or call the office at 800-949-4473 for further details or questions.
