leaf blowers, chainsaws - Staying Safe While Performing Tornado ...

by Art Still
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Tornado clean-up is a stressful time for workers and homeowners who must deal with the aftermath of destroyed property and lost possessions. A clean-up effort needs to occur so that important items can be salvaged, allowing reconstruction to begin. Professionals are sometimes called in to assist with the effort. There are also instances where a single family or a few friends gather together to start working through the debris piles. There are some simple guidelines that anyone performing a tornado clean-up should follow in order to remain safe.

Fully Inspect A Debris Pile Before Performing Work

A fallen tree or the collapsed remains of a shed often appear as deceptively simple cleaning jobs. Large trees are easily broken down with chainsaws into movable pieces. The debris from a structure that has collapsed is equally easy to move through with chainsaws and some heavy lifting. It is important to carefully inspect any debris pile or fallen tree before attempting to remove or cut individual pieces. There might be unexpected structural elements, like metal pipes, nails or other materials inside that could damage chainsaws and hinder clean-up. Examining exactly what is in the debris and looking at how each piece is arranged on the ground before moving anything will keep workers safer.

Avoid All Power Lines

Areas that have been hit by strong tornadoes frequently lose power for some period of time. Power lines that have fallen down should not be ignored simply because there is no electricity coming into an area. All downed wires should be treated as being live and very dangerous. Waiting for power crews to remove the lines is paramount. Similarly, any fallen trees or pieces of debris that are in contact with a downed power line should be avoided. Using leaf blowers to remove piles of leaves or twigs that are near a downed wire should not be attempted, because the power from the leaf blowers could throw the line in an unpredictable direction. Only professionals with the proper equipment and training should attempt to move or manage power lines. This will prevent any injuries that could occur due to contact with electricity.

Avoid Potential Hazards

Some tornado clean-up efforts cannot begin until after an area has been deemed safe for residents. This time period will give wildlife caught in a collapse, food and other organic materials a chance to start decomposing. Part of the inspection process that takes place before starting clean-up on an area should involve looking for potential biological hazards. Areas that have some potential hazards should be avoided until professionals arrive to assess and remove the source of the problem. Attempts to move away hazards with tools like leaf blowers or shovels should be avoided in order to prevent spreading airborne contaminants.

When the hazards have been removed, basic clean-up for the yard can begin. Use chainsaws to cut down dangling limbs that could fall with additional rain or gusty wind. Trees that are bent and have broken trunks should be cut carefully. Damage removal trucks from the local municipality will likely have limitations on debris pile size. Following the guidelines will assure prompt pick-up and disposal.

Author is a freelance writer. For more information on leaf blowers please visit http://www.echo-usa.com/

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