On-site safety during fire restoration

11/24/2020 (Permalink)

For every fire restoration professional, understanding the nature of fire is crucial to performing quality restoration work. Fire Restoration Technicians at SERVPRO of Tigard/Tualatin/Lake Oswego/West Linn and Beaverton go through an IICRC approved training program to learn the effects of fire before working with fire damaged contents or materials. 

The first step in their fire restoration training is safety, both precautions and preparations. Here is an insight into the safety knowledge our technicians use every day in the field.

On a fire restoration work site – or any restoration work site – safety is the responsibility of everyone present. Technicians at SERVPRO train regularly and work as a team to identify hazards and set up engineering controls that protect workers and occupants. 

Before any work can be done or any damaged materials can be disturbed, it’s important that restoration professionals coordinate lead and asbestos testing to see if abatement is needed on the property. 

Smoke, soot, and char damage to the structure or materials within can sometimes require strong restoration chemicals that, if not stored or used properly, can be hazardous to humans. This is why restoration professionals take care to secure, label, and organize our cleaning chemicals at the warehouse as well as during transit and onsite. 

When working with these chemicals, it’s important that restoration technicians are informed about what they are made of and the instructions for use. This knowledge comes from training and experience, but restorers are also able to verify information about chemical makeup, safety instructions, and more from data sheets kept on file and in vehicles, labels on the products themselves, and through regular training. 

If occupants are chemically-sensitive, it’s advised that they be absent while chemical cleaning and restoration work is being performed. 

Safety is our number one priority at SERVPRO of Tigard/Tualatin/Lake Oswego/West Linn and Beaverton. If you ever experience fire, smoke or soot damage in your home or business, you can trust SERVPRO to handle the restoration with care. Call us 24/7 at 503-684-5829.