Peninsula CERT Safety Procedures

Community Emergency Response Team

CERT Safety Procedures

  1. Wear the appropriate clothing and protection for the job you are assigned to.
    • Work boots or heavy soled shoes.
    • Gloves
      1. Rubber
      2. Leather
    • Hard hat and eye protection.
    • Something reflective so you may be seen in low light situations.
  2. Do not let personal features or items become a problem.
    • Jewelry should be removed.
    • Long hair should be confined.
    • Loose items of clothing should not be worn.
  3. Select and use the appropriate tools for what you need to accomplish.
    • Use tools for jobs they were designed to do.
    • Follow the directions and/or training you received with the tools.
    • Never use broken or cracked tools.
  4. Rescuer safety is the number one priority.
    • If you feel unsafe you probably are and should back off.
    • Always use the buddy system…no one should be alone.
    • Never exceed the limits of your training.
    • If you are uncomfortable with a tool or assignment tell the Team Leader so that changes may be made.
  5. Keep the affected area as clear and accessible as possible.
    • People without the proper protective items should be moved to a safer location.
    • Have an adequate number of people assigned to crowd control.
    • Keep non- essential personnel out of the actual work areas.
    • Have support personnel ready to step in and help immediately.
  6. Be willing to modify your response as the needs change.
    • A disaster is not static, so the response needs must remain fluid so that needs can be addressed without compromising the response already in progress.
    • If a situation becomes more dangerous be willing to move back and limit access until the resources and situations stabilize to a point that an active response may begin again.