With power still not fully restored in New York City and Long Island, and months of cleanup ahead in hard hit areas, union members need to be aware of the hidden risks that can accompany recovery work.
NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, who oversees NYSUT's health and safety services, cautions members to be vigilant about hidden dangers ranging from shorted-out electric wires to mold spores that rapidly reproduce in the wake of flooding. "As we learned from recovery work for Hurricane Irene, commonsense precautions are the best defense," said Donahue, noting that the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health offers tips geared to coping with the storm's aftermath, along with a list of flood cleanup resources.