CERT Safety Procedures
- Wear the appropriate clothing and protection for the job you are assigned to.
- Work boots or heavy soled shoes.
- Gloves
- Rubber
- Leather
- Hard hat and eye protection.
- Something reflective so you may be seen in low light situations.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.