A set of emergency kit tools on a table including a mask, flashlights, water bottles, and a bag that reads "FIRST AID "

As climate change worsens, extreme environmental events like wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, winter storms, heatwaves, and floods will become increasingly part of our lives. While there are plentiful guides with procedures for preparing families and homes for disaster, the role of employers of domestic workers in supporting their employees’ safety is generally overlooked. As the 2019 Getty fire in California illustrated, many house cleaners, gardeners, and household managers were put in life-threatening positions even within evacuation zones. 

At Hand in Hand, we know that most employers want to do the right thing and keep the workers in their homes safe during a natural disaster or emergency, so let’s get down to it!

Key Takeaways

  • Do your part to keep workers informed of evacuations, advisories, and other critical information.
  • Share emergency contact lists, emergency kits, safety gear, and emergency protocols with the worker you employ.
  • Pay workers for the time they would have worked during the disaster.

1. Make a Plan

  • Include disaster preparedness in your written work agreement. It should describe what to do if an emergency situation occurs while the domestic worker is in your home or when they are scheduled to work. Be explicit on what conditions would prevent them from coming to work (for example, if the property is not accessible, or if air quality is unsafe). It should also clarify the time and method by which you will inform them whether or not to come in.  
  • Exchange emergency contacts. Make sure workers know how to communicate with you in case of an emergency, including back-up phone numbers. Have a legible contact list posted in your home, and make sure it’s language accessible. 
    • Ask the worker to share their own emergency contacts and instructions for communication. 
  • Make an emergency kit and inform workers of its location.
  • Discuss emergency exits (including windows) with workers. Ensure these exits are not obstructed.

2. Evaluate Conditions and Prepare Your Home

  • Evaluate whether your home is safe during atypical conditions.
    • Are the driveways and pathways for entering and exiting your home cleared of ice or snow, etc.?
    • Do you have air purification systems inside your home for days exhibiting bad air quality or for the prevention of sickness transmission?
    • Is the temperature in your home safe and comfortable for a worker in hot or cold weather? 
    • Check the batteries of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
    • Provide portable fire extinguishers that are readily accessible and train the worker on their use.
  • Share evacuation orders and weather alerts. 
    • If workers are at your home and you hear of possible evacuation orders, communicate with the workers immediately and ensure they have transportation and safe routes to leave the area. 
    • Workers cannot be required to work in an area that is within an evacuation zone. 
    • Do not leave the worker behind in the event of a wildfire or other natural disaster.   
    • Check www.AirNow.gov. When the AQI is at 151 or above, it is considered unhealthy. Note: an AQI of 100 or above is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which can include people with asthma, children, and older adults.
    • If the AQI is unhealthy for the worker, take steps to reduce exposure.
      • Change work schedules and reduce work. 
      • Provide more rest periods in spaces that have filtered air, like a car or indoor environment. 
      • Use portable HEPA air filters to reduce the amount of particles inside the home. 
    • Ask cleaners to notify you if they have any symptoms such as watery or burning eyes, runny nose, coughing, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty breathing. This can indicate the need to stop work.

3. Ensure Safe TransportationCars on a flooded road driving in two separate directions

Ensure that the house cleaner you employ has safe transportation to and from your home. 

  • If the weather conditions are dangerous for travel per weather advisories or hazards like downed trees or flooding, do not ask a worker to show up to work. 
  • If the emergency event occurs when they’re already at your home, make sure that they have safe transportation home. 
  • Pay for transportation, like a car service, especially if you know that travel is going to be arduous or delayed due to emergency situations.

4. Provide PPE

Provide the proper protective equipment and gear. 

5. Pay for Lost Time

Finances and fear of losing a client are often cited as the main reasons workers come to work in unsafe conditions. Many rely on the income to meet their basic needs and support their families. If a job has to be canceled for any disaster-related reason, it is extremely important that workers are still compensated. Furthermore, have a conversation with the worker you employ about this ahead of time so they know what to expect.

We all want our homes to be places of safety, fairness, and positive relationships. Taking the time now to be prepared is the best way to ensure that you and the workers you employ remain safe when danger strikes. 

Next Steps

  1. Create a disaster preparedness plan with the worker you employ. 
  2. Continue learning about how to be a fair employer.
  3. Become a member of Hand in Hand.