NIOSH provides resources for tornado response

Washington – Following devastating tornadoes in Missouri, Oklahoma and other states, NIOSH recently launched a webpage with information for responders, health care workers and shelter workers assisting with tornado response and cleanup.

Potential hazards include electrical dangers, carbon monoxide, musculoskeletal disorders, heat stress, motor vehicle and large machinery incidents, fire, confined spaces, and falls.

Shelter workers and volunteers also may encounter overcrowding, long working hours and urgent demands for care, putting them at risk for fatigue, stress and illness, according to a NIOSH press release.

The webpage offers hazard fact sheets, recommendations for preventing illnesses and injuries, and survey forms to identify risk factors on-site and document safety procedures. NIOSH also advised emergency response directors and supervisors to enforce proper safety programs in the aftermath of a tornado.