Coping with Floods, Broken Pipes, and Spills

Stuff happens, and sometimes it leaves behind a big wet mess. How you handle the clean-up from floods, broken pipes and spills can save you major headaches down the road.
Here are some quick tips, based on FEMA guidelines:

Keep yourself safe. Take a moment to think before jumping into cleanup efforts. Is there an immediate threat to your personal safety? Has the gas, or electric supply, been compromised by the accident? Does equipment need to be shut down?

Be prepared ahead of time for a fast cleanup. A faster cleanup minimizes danger to employees and lessens the chance of damage to equipment and the facility. A standard wet/dry vac takes care of most small spills or leaky pipes. Industrial settings often require something much more powerful.

Preventative Maintenance. You can’t hold back the rain clouds, but by following your equipment maintenance schedule, you could prevent a majority of facility fires and broken pipes. In addition, regularly test your sump pumps and generators, to enable a swift and effective cleanup response.Plan for the weakest link.  Post instructions near equipment that may need to be moved or shut off. An untrained or panicked employee could cause injury, or damage, by handling equipment improperly in the heat of the moment.