Response and Recovery  Hazard Identification -
identification involves recognizing
Emergency response is the organizing,
coordinating, and directing of available
resources in order to respond to the event and
bring the emergency under control. The goal of
this coordinated response is to protect public
health by minimizing the impact of the event
on the community and the environment.
Tornado
General Precautions
 Continue to monitor your local radio
or television stations for emergency
information and the potential of
additional storms. Be aware of
possible structural, electrical, or
gas-leak hazards.
 If such hazards are identified, report
them to the proper local authorities
and/or utility.
 Do not touch downed power lines or
objects in contact with downed
power lines.
 Wear proper clothing when walking
on or near debris, including boots
and gloves.
 Be careful around sharp objects,
including nails and broken glass.
 Use the proper safety precautions
when operating generators,
chainsaws, or other power tools.
 Take steps to prevent heat illnesses
and dehydration.
Protecting workers from heat effects
 Designate a Person to Oversee the
Heat Stress Program - Identify
someone trained in the hazards,
physiological responses to heat, and
controls. This person can develop,
implement and manage the
program.
heat hazards and the risk of heat
illness due to high temperature,
humidity, sun and other thermal
exposures, work demands, clothing
or PPE and personal risk factors.
 Water.Rest.Shade - Encourage
workers to drink a liter of water over
one hour, which is about one cup
every fifteen minutes. Provide or
ensure that fully shaded or air-
conditioned areas are available for
resting and cooling down.
 Acclimatization - Acclimatization is
a physical change that allows the
body to build tolerance to working in
the heat. It occurs by gradually
increasing workloads and exposure
and taking frequent breaks for water
and rest in the shade.
 Modified Work Schedules
 Engineering Controls Specific to
Indoor Workplaces
Flood
Pagasa Flood Warning System
Yellow means “caution”. Residents are
advised to monitor the news for further
updates. “Yellow warning” represents 7.5-
15 mm rain in an hour which could also
cause flooding.
Green means “go”. Go ahead and prepare
for possible evacuation. “Green warning”
stands for 15-30 mm rain in an hour that
is also expected to continue within the
next two hours. At this point, low-lying
areas are expected to suffer from floods
because of relatively heavy downpour.
Red means “stop”. Better stop what you
are doing now if PAGASA says your area is
under a “red warning.” Evacuate.
According to PAGASA, if more than 30mm
rain is observed in an hour, and is
expected to continue in the next two
hours, then low-lying areas are expected
to experience serious flooding.
WHEN WARNED OF FLOOD:
• Watch for rapidly rising flood
waters.
• Listen to your radio for emergency
instructions.
• If you find it necessary to evacuate,
move to a safe area before access is
cut off by flood waters.
• Store drinking water in containers,
water service may be interrupted.
• Move household belongings to upper
levels.
• Get livestock to higher ground.
• Turn off electricity at the main
switch in the building before
evacuating and also lock your
house.
DURING THE FLOOD:
• Avoid areas subject to sudden
flooding.
• Do not attempt to cross rivers of
flowing streams where water is
above the knee.
• Beware of water-covered roads and
bridges.
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to the
elements.
• Do not go swimming or boating in
swollen rivers.
• Eat only well-cooked food. Protect
leftovers against contamination.
• Drink clean or preferably boiled
water ONLY.
AFTER THE FLOOD:
• Re-enter the dwellings with caution
using flashlights, not lanterns or
torchers. Flammables may be
inside.
• Be alert for fire hazards like broken
wires.
• Do not eat food and drink water
until they have been checked for
flood water contamination.
• Report broken utility lines
(electricity, water, gas and
telephone) to appropriate agencies
authorities.
• Do not turn on the main switch or
use appliances and other equipment
until they have been checked by a
competent electrician.
• Consult health authorities for
immunization requirements.
• Do not go in disaster areas. Your
presence might hamper rescue and
other emergency operations
Some of the Hazards
 Lifting Injuries
Workers involved in flood preparation and
cleanup activities are at risk of back, knee,
and shoulder injuries from manual lifting
and handling of building materials,
sandbags, and fallen tree limbs.
 Mold
Mold can often be recognized by sight or
smell. It may appear as colored woolly
mats, or it may produce a foul, musty,
earthy smell. Mold exposure can cause
sneezing, runny nose, eye irritation, cough
and congestion, aggravation of asthma,
and dermatitis (skin rash).
 Rodents, Snakes and
Insects
Dead and live animals can spread diseases
such as Rat Bite Fever and Rabies. Avoid
contact with wild or stray animals. Avoid
contact with rats or rat-contaminated
buildings, and if you can’t avoid contact,
wear protective gloves and wash your
hands regularly.
 Chemical and biological
hazards
 Fire
 Drowning
 Hypothermia
General Precautions
Hypothermia is a condition brought on
when the body temperature drops to less
than 35°C.
Earthquakes
Collapsed Structures
Collapsed structures are a common result
of earthquakes.
Potential Hazards
 Water system breaks that may flood
basement areas
 Exposure to pathogens from
sanitary sewer system breaks
 Exposed and energized electrical
wiring
 Exposure to airborne smoke and
dust (asbestos, silica, etc.)
 Exposure to bloodborne pathogens
 Exposure to hazardous materials
(ammonia, battery acid, leaking fuel,
etc.)
 Natural gas leaks creating
flammable and toxic environments
 Structural instability
 Insufficient oxygen
 Confined spaces
 Slip, trip or fall hazards from holes,
protruding rebar, etc.
 Struck-by hazards from falling
objects
 Fire
 Struck by heavy equipment such as
cranes or excavators
 Sharp objects such as glass and
debris
 Secondary collapse from aftershock,
vibration and explosions
 Unfamiliar surroundings
 Adverse weather conditions
 Noise from equipment
(generators/heavy machines)
 Workplace violence from robbing
and looting
 Only trained personnel should be
involved in search and rescue or
demolition and cleanup operations.
 Continue to monitor your local radio
or television stations for emergency
information.
 Be aware of possible structural,
electrical, or gas-leak hazards.
 If such hazards are identified, report
them to the proper local authorities
and/or utility.
 Do not touch downed overhead lines
or objects in contact with downed
power lines.
 Wear proper protective clothing
when walking on or near debris,
including boots and gloves.
 Be careful around sharp objects,
including nails and broken glass.
 Use the proper safety precautions
when operating generators,
chainsaws, or other power tools.
 Take steps to prevent cold injuries
or heat illnesses and dehydration.
  Avoid contact with wild or stray
animals.

Tsunami
Natural Signs Of An Approaching Local
Tsunami
1. Shake
A felt earthquake.
2. Drop
Unusual sea level change, sudden sea
water retreat or rise.
Exposure of corals, underwater rocks and
marine life.
3. Roar
Rumbling sound of an approaching waves.
Manmade Disasters
Oilspill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid
petroleum hydrocarbon into the
environment, especially marine areas, due
to human activity, and is a form of
pollution.

Equipment Used
Containment Boom
 A flexible, fence-type, water-borne
pollutant containment barrier that
floats on the water.
 Used to contain oil slicks and lift the
oil off the water.
 Boom is reusable and must be
decontaminated after use.
 It is very heavy to carry and difficult
to work with.
Oil Skimmer - Machine that separates oil
floating on water.
Vacuums - remove oil from beaches and
water surface
Shovels – used to clean up oil on beaches
Methods of Cleanup
Bioremediation
- Use of microorganisms or biological
agents to break down or remove oil
Controlled Burning
- Burns the oil off of the water
- Burns the oil off of the water.
- Can effectively reduce the amount of oil
in water.
- Can only be done in low wind.
- Can cause air pollution and respiratory
ailments.
Shoveling (Removal of contaminated
material)
-Use buddy system – one worker holds a
disposable bag and the other shovels. •
Sand is removed and taken to a facility for
processing to remove the crude oil.
-Can be done on sandy beaches or
saltwater marshes.
High-pressure Hot Water
-Process of spraying oil-stricken beaches
with hot water.
-Initial step is to spray the rocky shore
with high pressure jets of water from
hoses.
-After the oil is sprayed off the surface of
the rocks on the beach, the oil drains into
areas that have booms in place.
Epidemic, Outbreak
and Pandemics
Pandemic Influenza
An outbreak is the sudden occurrence of a
disease in a community, which has never
experienced the disease before or when
cases of that disease occur in numbers
greater than expected in a defined area.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak.
An influenza pandemic occurs when a new
influenza virus emerges for which there is
little or no immunity in the human
population; begins to cause serious
illness; and then spreads easily person-to-
person worldwide.
How to Protect Yourself in the
Workplace during a Pandemic
 Stay home if you are sick.
 Wash your hands frequently with
soap and water for 20 seconds or
with a hand sanitizer if soap and
water are not available.
 Avoid touching your nose, mouth
and eyes.
 Cover your coughs and sneezes with
a tissue, or cough and sneeze into
your upper sleeve. Dispose of
tissues in no-touch trash
receptacles.
 Wash your hands or use a hand
sanitizer after coughing, sneezing, or
blowing your nose.
 Avoid close contact (within 6 feet)
with coworkers and customers.
 Avoid shaking hands and always
wash your hands after physical
contact with others.
 If wearing gloves, always wash your
hands after removing them.
 Keep frequently touched common
surfaces (for example, telephones,
computer equipment, etc.) clean.
 Try not to use other workers'
phones, desks, offices, or other work
tools and equipment.
 Minimize group meetings; use e-
mails, phones and text messaging. If
meetings are unavoidable, avoid
close contact (within 6 feet) with
 others and ensure that the meeting
room is properly ventilated.
 Limit unnecessary visitors to the
workplace.
 Maintain a healthy lifestyle;
attention to rest, diet, exercise and
relaxation helps maintain physical
and emotional health.
What Employers Can Do to Protect
Workers from Pandemic Influenza
Engineering controls are those that
involve making changes to the work
environment to reduce work-related
hazards.
Examples include:
Installing physical barriers, such as clear
plastic sneeze guards.
Installing a drive-through window for
customer service.
Using specialized negative-pressure
ventilation for aerosol-generating
procedures in healthcare settings.
Administrative controls are those that
modify workers' work schedules and tasks
in ways that minimize their exposure to
workplace hazards. Examples include:
 Developing policies that encourage
ill workers to stay at home without
fear of any reprisals.
 Discontinuing nonessential travel to
locations having high prevalence of
illness.
 Developing practices to minimize
face-to-face contact between
workers such as extended use of e-
mail, websites and teleconferences.
Where possible, encourage flexible
work arrangements such as
telecommuting or flexible work
hours to reduce the number of
workers who must be at the work
site at one time or in one specific
location.
 Relying on home delivery of goods
and services to reduce the number
of clients or customers who must
visit your workplace.
 Developing emergency
communications plans. Maintain a
forum for answering workers'
concerns. Develop Internet-based
communications, if feasible.
Work practices are procedures for safe
and proper work that are used to reduce
the duration, frequency or intensity of
exposure to a hazard Examples include:
 Providing resources and a work
environment that promotes personal
hygiene. For example, provide
tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand
soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectants
and disposable towels for workers to
clean their work surfaces.
 Encouraging workers to obtain a
seasonal influenza vaccine (this
helps to prevent illness from
seasonal influenza strains that may
continue to circulate).
 Providing workers with up-to-date
education and training on influenza
risk factors, protective behaviors,
and instruction on proper behaviors
(for example, cough etiquette;
avoiding touching eyes, nose and
mouth; and proper care of PPE).
 Providing education and training
materials in an easy to understand
format and in the appropriate
language and literacy level for all
employees.
 Developing procedures to minimize
contacts between workers and
between workers and clients or
customers.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is
protective gear needed to keep workers
safe while performing their jobs. It is
important that PPE be:
 Selected based upon the hazard to
the worker;
 Properly fitted and some need to be
periodically refitted (e.g.,
respirators);
 Conscientiously and properly worn;
 Regularly maintained and replaced
in accordance with manufacturer's
specifications;
 Properly removed and disposed of to
avoid contamination of self, others
or the environment; and
 If reusable, properly removed,
cleaned, disinfected and stored.