What To Do When There Is Sewage Backup in Your Building

10/25/2019 (Permalink)

Always take precautions when dealing with a sewage backup on your property.

A major hurricane or storm in Doral, FL can cause severe flood damage to your commercial building. Specifically, the contaminated floodwaters or sewage backup could end up in your office. This black water may contain microbes or harmful chemicals.

If you do suspect that there is a sewage backup in your building, you can take steps to limit the destruction. These precautions include:

Evacuating vulnerable individuals, namely seniors and children, from the area
Removing uncontaminated items
Opening windows to increase ventilation
Adding bleach to standing water to limit the spread of bacteria

Obviously, you do not want your workers exposed to these toxins. However, you do not have to completely shut down your office for the entirety of the flood cleanup. Once the affected areas are demolished or disinfected, employees can come back to work while the building is restored.

Small Sewage Spills
If the backup is fairly recent and confined to a small area, you may be able to handle the problem yourself. Make sure to wear proper gear, including masks, gloves and boots, so your skin does not contact the black water.

Any saturated paneling, carpets, floors and baseboards should be disposed of immediately. Then wash and disinfect the entire area with an antibacterial cleaner. Portable items should be allowed to dry outside in the sun.

When To Call the Experts
If the sewage backup is more than 24 hours old or has spread to multiple rooms of the property, you will need to contact a commercial building restoration company. Professionals will keep your employees safe and limit the spread of mold during the storm cleanup.

Employers or property managers may be able to handle small sewage backups on their own. However, a major black water contamination requires the assistance of professionals. Even if you do have to call in experts, your employees can return to the office while the storm damage restoration occurs.