London, 8 September 2008

Following extensive flooding across many parts of England and Wales, Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, outlines the immediate business recovery and health and safety actions businesses affected should take to recover from the emergency.

Immediate business actions

Businesses need to consider the following actions, which should feature into their pre-flooding plans:

• Deploy high-capacity diesel pumps to pump out water from levels below ground level, ensuring the area is well-ventilated and access is restricted to protect the health and welfare of employees and the public.
• Once pumping out has been completed, drying out will be necessary with industrial-scale blowers.
• Inspect fuel tanks for water contamination.
• Deploy pumps to remove contaminated water from water storage tanks. Until this water is replaced and clean water flushed through, Health and Safety regulations prevent people from returning to the building and using the facilities.
• Check the drains and sewerage system as they well may have become blocked and ‘backed up’.
• Check all electrical systems thoroughly; some rewiring may be necessary. If power has been switched off or disrupted then systems may need to be checked and reconfigured.
• Consider employing specialised restoration businesses to recover damaged technology, documents, and other material.
• Employ contract cleaners to renovate properties.
• Secure empty buildings until reoccupation is possible.

Recovery actions

The viability of businesses going forward will depend on the speed with which they can recover. Hence, it is important to:

• Contact insurers with details, and photographs, of all damage.
• Activate alternative recovery sites or move key activities to new premises if possible.
• Focus on maintaining critical activities e.g. staff, utilities, IT, finance, payroll.
• Inform clients/customers/suppliers of the situation and their recovery plans.
• Plan for stock replacement and vehicle/fleet servicing.
• Implement a scheme to help staff with their personal circumstances.

Health and safety actions

To safeguard staff and assets, Marsh recommends the following general health and safety advice:

Cleaning up

• Do not re-enter premises until all floodwater has been removed. The Fire and Rescue Service may help with pumping water out of premises.
• Wear waterproof boots and gloves to clean surfaces or move objects that have been in contact with the floodwater.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling anything that may be contaminated and use hot soapy water and liquid anti-bacterial soap.
• Ventilate premises after flooding - less damp is less damage.
• Remove all furnishings and fittings that are damaged beyond repair.
• Wash down all hard surfaces such as flooring, concrete, mouldings, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks and other plumbing fixtures with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
• Then disinfect them with a solution of 1 cup of household bleach to a gallon of water.
• Launder all clothing in a hot wash to destroy most bacteria present. Clothing which cannot be machine washed should be dry cleaned or disposed of. Clothes worn during the clean up should be washed as above separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• Air dry in the sun any items, such as upholstered furniture, which cannot be washed or dry cleaned. They should then be sprayed thoroughly with a disinfectant. All carpeting should be steam cleaned where possible.
• Allow the premises and remaining contents to thoroughly dry to help to destroy bacteria left behind. Heating and good ventilation will help the drying process.
• Vacuum any loose material and dust on a regular basis.
• All food contact surfaces, equipment, utensils, work tables etc. must be thoroughly sanitised before reusing. Any heavily contaminated items should be thrown away.
• All food that may have been contaminated must be destroyed. Initially this must be double bagged and placed in a sealed container to prevent attracting pests.

Reducing the risk to health

The risk of infection can be reduced by ensuring staff take the following general hygiene precautions and wear protective clothing (waterproof boots and gloves) when cleaning up:

• Always wash hands with soap and clean water:
• Keep cuts or sores clean and wear waterproof plasters to prevent exposure to flood water.
• Advise staff to visit their GP if they develop symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea, tummy cramps or illness following accidental swallowing of mud or contaminated water.
• Ensure any mould growth is properly treated.

Reducing the risk to safety

The risk to safety can be reduced by taking the following precautions:

• It may be necessary to contact utility suppliers to reconnect supplies. Do not use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a qualified electrician.
• Do not use any internal lifts until power supplies are back to normal.
• Do not enter any confined spaces e.g. cellars where there is known oil/petrol contamination.
• Take care with timber floorboards as they may contain raised nails. Similarly, there may be a risk of injury from sharp edges on the tiles of damaged tiled floors.
• Check for structural damage to the property and if you think there may be damage or danger, seek professional advice from your insurers or a structural engineer.
• Replace dislodged manhole covers.

Operating without an electricity supply

In the event of a loss of electricity, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine whether or not it is safe to continue working. The Workplace, Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations require that the workplace is adequately ventilated, there is suitable and sufficient lighting and a suitable temperature is maintained (the temperature in the workplace should normally be at least 16 degrees celsius unless much of the work involves severe physical effort, in which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius). It is unlikely that a business would be able to operate safely for any extended period of time where there is a loss of electricity supply.

Operating without a mains water supply

In the event of a loss of mains water supply, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine if it is safe to continue working. The Workplace, Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations require that workplaces have suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and washing facilities in readily accessible places. Washing facilities should have running hot and cold water.

An adequate supply of drinking water free from contamination should also be provided. Bottled water is an acceptable secondary supply where drinking water cannot be obtained directly from the mains. The containers should be refilled at least daily.

The risk assessment should identify the methods which will be employed to keep sanitary conveniences and drinking water supplies available to staff. If this cannot be done, it is not likely to be acceptable to continue to operate.

Chemical hazards

In order to protect against chemical hazards, the following steps should be taken:

• Contact the relevant manufacturers and fire and rescue service for advice in the event of any major chemical contamination.
• Remove oil, diesel or petrol contamination by using a detergent solution and washing the surface down after initial cleaning has been carried out.
• Remove vehicle batteries (including those immersed in floodwater) with great caution using insulated gloves as these may still contain an electric charge.
• Avoid contact with acid which may be spilled from vehicle batteries.
• Avoid contact with contaminated water and materials and wear protective gloves and clothing where it cannot be avoided.
• Avoid enclosed areas which may be chemically contaminated as hazardous fumes may build up.

Emergency generators

Petrol or diesel generators, dehumidifiers and pressure washers must not be used indoors without adequate ventilation.

Damaged goods

Do not dispose of any damaged goods until insurers have had a chance to inspect them. It may help to take photographic or video footage evidence.

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