As we have said many times before, water damage in your home or business is very common. It is thought that 1 in 50 homes experience water damage every year.
And that’s not only due to storms and flooding, think broken and burst pipes or even a damaged roof. Water damage can creep into your home or office building quickly, and become a huge problem if it goes unnoticed and untreated.
It’s essential to stay safe when dealing with water removal and restoration because mold, sewage and storm debris in standing water can be hazardous to your health.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the safety precautions needed to tackle the water damage restoration process and the equipment that will get the job done efficiently and expertly.
Safety Precautions Needed in the Water Removal Process
Health and safety must be the top priority at all times when undertaking the water damage restoration process. Each category of water damage comes with specific safety and health risks that require specific precautions.
This can range from something as simple as ventilating the area properly to wearing full protective gear. No matter the category of water damage, there are safety precautions that must be followed.
The Occupational Safety and Health Association’s (OSHA) Safety Guidelines
The OSHA has clear guidelines and standards for proper health and safety precautions. They have put regulations in place that dictate how much exposure any worker can have to dangerous materials and circumstances.
They identify substances and materials that could pose a threat and outline how they should be addressed. These procedures include bagging, transportation, and treating hazardous materials, along with what equipment should be used.
Training and Education
Any workers who restore buildings after water damage should have the right training and education regarding restoration techniques and health and safety.
This includes any hazards in the surrounding environment that are possible when performing their tasks.
They must also be fully trained in OSHA rules and regulations about water damage restoration, as well as any local and state requirements.
By attending IICRC WRT classes, workers will be fully versed in all of the standards of care and safety for the industry.
Categories of Water Damage and the Risk Involved
Category 1
This is water damage that does not pose a significant risk to workers since the water is, by definition, clean.
The risks may come into play if the water is in a dangerous situation, such as when power lines or other electricity sources are nearby.
Category 2
There is an increased risk with category 2 water damage since gray water is involved. Workers will most likely have to wear protective equipment like boots and gloves, along with coveralls.
Workers should always be aware of the area around them and what might constitute a safety risk.
Category 3 water damage is the most dangerous and should be treated with the utmost care. Sewage and contaminants can pose severe health risks to workers.
They may require full-body protection, and they may have to place contaminated materials into specially approved containers for removal and transportation.
Water Damage Restoration Equipment Needed to Tackle Water Removal
To ensure your family or employees’ health, it’s important to quickly dry out the water-damaged area, using professional water damage restoration equipment.
- Moisture Sensors and Meters: These help the technicians to know how wet an area is and how they will need to restore it. They display the moisture content for floors, ceilings, walls, and other materials.
- Air Movers: Air movers will blow air across surfaces and help dry the space quickly and efficiently. They come in several sizes, the larger being more powerful, moving more air per minute.
- Dehumidifiers: Will draw the water from the air and drain it so that it doesn’t settle back down on the materials. A standard unit can remove about 150 pints of water from the air every 24 hours.
- Air Scrubbers: These work to clean the air by removing chemicals, particles, and/or gasses from the air by pushing it through filters. This is very useful when it comes to fire damage restoration, and with water damage, they help get rid of the odors associated with mildew and mold.Wet air scrubbers use a wet filter to catch airborne particles. Dry air scrubbers have an ionic purifier to perform a similar function.
- Foggers: These will turn a chemical into fog to eliminate odors and kill bacteria. Thermal foggers use a solvent-based deodorizer that is heated and blown into a room. The solution sticks to the molecules of the door and absorbs them.
- Generators: These will provide power for all the technicians’ equipment if there is a loss of power.
When it comes to water removal and restoration, there is a lot to know and a lot to consider. When a situation involves flooding and possible contamination, it is a job best left to the professionals.
Water removal and restoration contractors and companies must have the proper training and tools to safely and effectively undertake the job. This also includes getting it done as economically as possible.
They must be fully educated in not just the process of repairing water damage but also in all health and safety measures.
How We Can Help
As a professional water removal and restoration company, Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT offer water damage restoration services that have helped thousands of residential and commercial customers recover after water damage – both big and small.
From hurricanes to tornadoes to commercial water damage due to burst pipes and extreme weather – our company has reestablished businesses and restored communities.
At Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT, we have locations strategically placed throughout the country, allowing us to mobilize crews and equipment promptly. Find out more by contacting us for more information.