OSHA and ASSE Distribute PPE for Hurricane Relief

With speeds reaching 130 mph, Hurricane Harvey caused severe destruction and property damage. In fact, it causes more damage than any other tropical cyclone on record, even beating out Hurricane Katrina.

Statistics show that Hurricane Harvey left more than 300,000 Texans without power while causing billions of dollars in property damage. When it initially made landfall across Aransas Country, it was classified as a Category 4 hurricane. Bringing massive amounts of water, Hurricane Harvey flooded many residential and commercial areas, prompting a massive recovery response by local officials.

In an effort to help law enforcement, relief and search and rescue teams, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has reamed up to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Houston area. According to a joint statement by the two organizations, OSHA's regional offices in Houston and Corpus Christi will work alongside ASSE to acquire and distribute the PPE.

OSHA and the ASSE's distribution efforts will be focused on helping communities and small businesses. When speaking about the two organizations' plants to distribute PPE, ASSE Region III Vice President Steven Gray explained that affected communities should be given the necessary equipment to protect them now and in the future.

“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.”

OSHA and the ASSE say that everyone should have an emergency preparedness and recovery plan, both for personal use as well as business use. Waiting until a natural disaster like a hurricane strikes is just asking for trouble. If you create and implement a preparedness plan, you'll have an easier time of straying afloat in the wake of such disaster. You can learn more about creating an emergency preparedness plan by visiting the official OSHA website here.

So, what kind of PPE are the two organizations expected to distribute? There's still no word on what specifically they will provide communities and small business employers. However, it's safe to assume the equipment will be related to basic survival equipment as well as flood and electrical safety protection.