This paper examines the application of industrial hygiene principles to the cleanup and recovery of a large New Orleans hospital following Hurricane Katrina. Written from the perspective of an industrial hygienist supervising a recovery team, the paper provides practical guidance to an Incident Commander on safe entry procedures, appropriate personal protective equipment, hazardous material removal, air monitoring methods, and team organization. Drawing on OSHA standards and industrial hygiene frameworks, it outlines how to assess workplace hazards, assign tasks according to worker competency, and implement health and safety controls to protect recovery workers from acute and chronic health risks.
The paper effectively uses an applied problem-solution structure: it identifies a real-world public health emergency, frames the industrial hygienist's professional role within it, and then methodically addresses each component of that role. This technique — anchoring academic concepts to a defined professional scenario — demonstrates how theoretical knowledge translates into practical workplace safety planning.
The paper opens by establishing the scenario and the hygienist's mandate, then moves through six substantive areas: recommendations to the Incident Commander, industrial hygiene concerns, team organization, PPE and testing equipment, hazardous material removal, and air monitoring. Each section builds on the previous one, progressing from planning and assessment through to implementation. A brief conclusion synthesizes the role of industrial hygiene across all stages of the recovery effort.
A large New Orleans hospital was severely affected by Hurricane Katrina, resulting in the evacuation of staff to Baton Rouge. Six weeks after the event, an industrial hygienist has been mandated with the responsibility of supervising a team returning to the hospital to evaluate the situation and develop a plan to re-establish basic medical services for staff involved in the recovery initiative. The team comprises various hospital leaders, and the Incident Commander responsible for overseeing recovery is seeking guidance on safe entry procedures, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all recovery employees, safe cleanup procedures, and a hazard assessment for the most critical items. The Commander also requires an assessment of operations that may contribute to acute or chronic health effects, disease, or illness. Supervising the team and providing this guidance requires the systematic application of industrial hygiene concepts.
The Incident Commander is seeking guidance from the industrial hygienist regarding safe entry, suitable PPE for all recovery staff, safe cleanup processes, hazard assessment for critical items, and identification of operations that may cause adverse health effects. This guidance is vital because disasters of this scale are typically accompanied by septic system collapse, structural destruction, and chemical hazards.
The first recommendation to the Incident Commander is to ensure that no one works alone. This ensures that there is always another person available to assist in the event of an emergency during recovery or cleanup. Second, each worker should be adequately trained on the proper procedures to follow and should exercise extreme caution when entering the building. Third, all workers should wear robust footwear, as cut feet are among the most common injuries in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Workers should also carry flashlights and other portable lighting when conducting operations in low-visibility areas. Fourth, the cleanup team should be issued HEPA-rated respirators during initial entry into the building. Finally, windows, floors, doors, and walls should be critically assessed to ensure the safety of all personnel before the full team enters the structure.
It is important for the Incident Commander to work with the organization's managers and supervisors in conducting an assessment of specific site conditions and implementing safety and health controls based on OSHA standards (Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 2013).
Industrial hygiene concepts play a crucial role in supervising the recovery team and providing direction to the Incident Commander. Industrial hygienists are responsible for identifying, evaluating, and assessing workplace hazards and exposures. Upon completing that assessment, these professionals develop and implement programs and procedures to control them (Wagner, 2014, p. 29). The first step in supervising the team and directing cleanup recovery staff is the identification of the primary industrial hygiene concerns.
Key industrial hygiene issues for these teams include team member safety, hazardous material spills, standing and moving water, and the dangers of working on wet debris. The safety of team members is a primary concern because working in the aftermath of a disaster of this magnitude requires careful planning, with the hygiene of the recovery site being a central issue. Since the Katrina disaster involved flooding, hazardous material spills and leaks pose significant environmental and personal health risks to team members. Additionally, standing and moving water from the disaster may conceal unforeseen hazards that are harmful to cleanup and recovery workers.
The cleanup and recovery efforts at the large New Orleans hospital require the systematic application of industrial hygiene concepts. These concepts are essential in organizing the cleanup and recovery team and in assigning specific tasks and duties to team members. Industrial hygiene principles are also vital for guiding recovery measures, ensuring worker safety, and providing comprehensive guidance to the Incident Commander throughout the recovery process.
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Wagner, D. D. (2014, August). The role of real-time detection in industrial hygiene. EHS Today, 7(8), 29–30.
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