Staying safe after the North-West and Western Queensland Floods

With the recovery phase now underway, it's vital that residents, businesses and volunteers follow health and safety guidance to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities.

Employers and persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) coordinating flood recovery activities should:

• Assess potential hazards before commencing any work in flood-affected areas.
• Provide appropriate safety equipment, training and supervision to workers and volunteers involved in recovery operations. This includes suitable personal protective equipment such as enclosed footwear, heavy work gloves, and protective clothing.

Workers and volunteers should:

• Never enter floodwater without appropriate safety measures.
• Not use electrical equipment affected by water before it is confirmed safe to do so by a qualified electrician.
• Not use electrical equipment affected by water before it is confirmed safe to do so by a qualified electrician.
• Be alert to the presence of asbestos in debris from older buildings.
• Maintain good hygiene practices when handling flood-affected materials.
• Take regular rest breaks and watch for signs of fatigue.
• Seek help if feeling overwhelmed by the clean-up task.

Key risks include:

• Infections and disease from biological hazards such as from animal carcass disposal and polluted flood waters.
• Electrical hazards from water-affected equipment and installations.
• Exposure to asbestos in damaged buildings constructed before 1990.
• Chemical hazards from displaced containers and contaminated floodwater.
• Risks of slips, trips and falls in muddy conditions.
• Fatigue from extended work hours during recovery.
• Psychological stress impacts on workers involved in clean-up efforts.

For workplace health and safety advice during flood recovery, visit worksafe.qld.gov.au or call 1300 362 128.

Animal carcass disposal after floods:

• Ensure workers are aware of the infection risks and protect workers by including personal hygiene measures and personal protective equipment.
• Educate workers that trenches for carcass disposal typically include steep sides, and in some cases the sides may collapse during the disposal activity.
• To avoid trench collapse, mobile plant should remain outside of the “zone of influence” of an un-shored trench.
• The zone of influence is the area on either side of the trench that is at least equal to the depth of a trench (e.g. for a five-metre-deep trench, the zone of influence can extend for five metres either side of the trench).
• An additional one metre on the outside of the zone of influence may also be applied to prevent collapse.

During animal carcass disposal, employers and workers are reminded:

• An un-shored trench with near vertical sides could collapse at any time. The risk of collapse will increase as mobile plant or carcasses move into the zone of influence.
• Operator should remain in the cabin. Workers should not walk near the carcasses or within the zone of influence of open excavations.
• Deep trenches should ideally be dug with earthmoving plant where the operator’s cabin remains above ground. An excavator with a long boom and dipper arm will be better than a loader or dozer to dig a trench. If a loader or dozer is entering a deep trench and the entire machine is below ground level, battering should be used on the trench sides.
• Cabins on earthmoving plant should be provided with a ROPS (roll over protective structure).
• A dozer or loader will be the safest mobile plant to push the carcasses into the trench. When carcasses are being pushed into the trench, approach at right angles so that the plant will not roll if the trench collapses. If the trench collapses, the operator should attempt to reverse away from the trench.
• When pushing carcasses into a trench, once the blade or bucket reaches the edge of the trench the machine should start to reverse.
• Find out more about the disposal of animal carcasses:
  safety considerations when trenching to bury carcasses fact sheet (PDF, 0.58 MB)

Operating machinery/tractors in wet conditions:

Employers and workers need to:

• Be aware of changed ground conditions which may increase the risk of roll over, bogging or loss of stability.
• Take account of decreased vision due to rain, mud and other conditions.

Quad bike use:

• Wear an appropriate helmet.
• Identify and assess potential hazards prior to attempting to cross any waterways, flooded or muddy terrain and be aware of washouts.
• Operate quad bike at a safe speed suitable to the conditions.
• Do not allow children or untrained, inexperienced people to operate quad bikes.
• Be aware of hidden obstacles that may be covered by mud, debris, grass or water.
• View other information about Quad bikes.

Psychological stress

The emotional impacts of these natural disasters on workers may not come to the surface for a little while. To minimise the risk of psychological stress on workers employers should:

• Educate on and encourage workers to use available counselling services.
• Consult with workers when setting realistic work targets and priorities for completion of clean-up and repair works.
• Consult with workers about any changes to their roles, work tasks and broader business changes, and where possible allow their input in decision making.
• Hold regular worker/team discussions on additional pressures/challenges.
• Provide 'time out' areas for workers to distance themselves and take breaks from demanding work tasks.
• Recognise and reward workers for their efforts.

Fatigue management:

• Roster shifts so that workers/volunteers have the opportunity to sleep continuously for 7 to 8 hours in each 24-hour period.
• Rotate shifts forward rather than back.
• Limit number of consecutive night shifts to four.
• Finish night shifts by 8 am.
• Allow a minimum of 12 hours between consecutive shifts.
• Roster at least two full night’s sleep after the last night shift.
• Provide frequent rest breaks during shifts.
• Provide transport where possible to minimise the risks associated with commuting.
• Provide an area/room for workers/volunteers to sleep before commuting home.
• Schedule safety critical and complex tasks during the daytime (when workers/volunteers are most alert).

For more information refer to Storms and floods

Support available

Disaster Recovery Grants are available through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority for eligible primary producers, small businesses, and not-for-profits in the affected local government areas.

Apply via the QRIDA website at http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au.

For general assistance visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or call 1800 173 349.