After a flood
The following information is aimed at businesses but you can also read our general advice for after a flood.
Health and safety
After a flood, you still need to keep health and safety in mind at all times.
- As a business, you must consider the safety of yourself, your employees, the general public and any contractors who enter your premises.
- You must also ensure you comply with your duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 when staff are carrying out work activities they wouldn't normally be doing.
- Lifts and hoists should not be used until they've been checked by a competent person to ensure that the floodwaters haven't affected the safety of the system.
- Remember, only when your premises are safe should you allow members of the public back into the premises.
Cleaning
Here's how to clean up your business after a flood.
- All river debris, furnishings, equipment and other items which have to be disposed of must be dealt with legally and as carefully as possible.
- People cleaning up must not be put at risk of coming directly into contact with potentially contaminated rubbish that may contain hidden, sharp or jagged objects.
- You must ensure your staff are aware of these precautions whilst carrying out the cleaning.
Water and electricity
Making sure your water and electricity are safe to use after a flood is important.
- It's vitally important for safety reasons to have your electric appliances inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer before being put back into use. The appliances may look and appear to be working normally, but the flue or ventilation systems that are essential for normal operation may have been adversely affected by floodwater. Find Gas Safe registered engineers
- If a swimming pool has become flooded, it must be drained, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. After refilling the pool, the water should be tested to check the system isn't still contaminated with harmful bacteria.
- If you're charged a fixed water fee without a water meter, contact United Utilities. They may suspend your water bills if you're not using your business property because it has flooded.
Reopening a food business
When you come to clean up and reopen your food business, you should consider:
- Wooden beer casks which have been in contact with floodwaters must be thrown away. Metal beer barrels may be able to be used as long as the floodwater has not reached any connection, outlet or inlet.
- When returning any contaminated barrels, casks, bottles and cans, advise your suppliers they've been in contact with floodwaters so they can take the necessary precautions.
- It's essential that all flood-damaged food and drink is correctly disposed of to ensure that it can't be consumed and cause illness. If you're in any doubt about the safe disposal of such items, please contact us for advice.
- Some equipment, although in working order, won't be easy to clean and disinfect. Any equipment such as fridges, freezers and ovens, where the motor or fan is included in, or directly communicates with the main body of the unit, must be thrown away.
- If you're in any doubt about the need for disposal, or whether the equipment is possible to disinfect properly, please contact us using the details on this page and we may visit you to help.
Rodents
Floodwater may disturb rodents which could've entered your premises and caused damage to electrical wiring and furniture.
If you think this has happened, a pest control contractor should check your premises.
Book a treatment or arrange a call-out visit
Chemicals
There may be chemical residues left after the floodwater has gone down, either from open containers on your premises or elsewhere.
Some of these chemicals can be harmful and could combine with other chemicals to form a more dangerous substance.
You must consult with the suppliers of the chemicals for advice.