June 2, 2023

US Department of Labor will provide worker safety, health experts in areas hardest hit in Guam by Typhoon Mawar to protect recovery workers

DEDEDO, GUAM – The U.S. Department of Labor will send experts from its Occupational Safety and Health Administration to areas of Guam hardest hit by Typhoon Mawar to protect the safety and health of recovery workers as part of the federal response and recovery effort after the storm struck the island in late May.

On June 4, OSHA will deploy workplace safety and health experts to Guam to identify and eliminate serious hazards and help prevent injuries among employers and workers. The agency's outreach will focus on exposures to heat illness, and fall, struck-by, crushing and electrical hazards as well as the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning when using temporary electrical generators.

"OSHA safety and health experts on the ground in Guam will provide outreach and technical assistance needed to help people as they begin recovery work in areas most affected by Typhoon Mawar," said OSHA's Regional Administrator James Wulff in San Francisco. "People involved in storm recovery and cleanup must follow proper procedures to protect themselves from the many risks that exist after a natural disaster."

As part of the recovery process, OSHA has temporarily suspended programmed and planned enforcement inspections in heavily impacted areas. The agency, however, retains the authority to perform inspections related to fatalities, catastrophic incidents, employee complaints, incidents involving life-altering injuries and where employers repeatedly expose employees to serious hazards during cleanup and recovery.

Employers and employees in Guam may call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742), the Honolulu Area Office at 808-541-2680, or go to the OSHA Hurricane Preparedness and Response website for further assistance. Additionally, OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small and medium-sized businesses and employers can contact the Guam Onsite Consultation Program at 671-300-4618 or the CNMI OSHA Onsite Consultation Program at 670-287-7531 to schedule a visit.

Learn more about OSHA.

Media Contacts:

Michael Petersen, 415-625-2630, petersen.michael.w@dol.gov
Jose Carnevali, 415-625-2631, carnevali.jose@dol.gov

Release Number: 23-1228-SAN