Oct. 12, 2017

HOUSTON, TX – The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) have partnered to organize and distribute protective equipment and other resources to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. OSHA offices in Houston and Corpus Christi will work with the ASSE Region III leadership to coordinate donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and distribute information on safety and health issues during recovery efforts.

“Our joint resources are aimed at helping businesses, especially small business employers, protect workers as they go back to work, especially in hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts,” said OSHA’s South Houston Area Director Mark Briggs.

OSHA staff is distributing PPE to area businesses and recovery workers as part of their effort to provide support to the many companies and contractors involved in cleanup and recovery. ASSE members are also distributing donations to the community to aid in the cleanup of residential locations.

“After Hurricane Harvey, we want the employers and the community at-large to have resources to assist them now and in the future if necessary,” said ASSE Region III Vice President Steven Gray. “Safety, health, and environmental professionals all along the Gulf Coast are urging businesses to plan now for any type of contingency situation that could occur – especially when people and communities are at risk.”

To prepare for crisis situations, OSHA and ASSE urge everyone to integrate emergency preparedness and recovery plans into personal and business efforts to recover from natural disasters and emergencies. Information on specific home and business safety plans can be found on the ASSE Region III website and on OSHA’s Emergency Preparedness and Response page.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov, or call the OSHA South office at 281-286-0583 or OSHA North office at 936-760-3600.