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Clearing up after a flood - businesses advice

This page contains advice on what to do if your business premises has been flooded. There is a further page outlining sources of flood relief funds, which are available for businesses.

Please also see our Advice After Flooding for Residents especially if your house has been flooded.

If Your Food Business Has Been Flooded
There could be a serious risk to public health from infection and food contamination.

Do not prepare any food or re-open the establishment until the premises have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The floodwater may be heavily contaminated with sewerage, harmful bacteria and other pollutants such as oil / petrol etc.
All food contact surfaces, equipment, utensils, work tables etc. must be thoroughly sanitised before re-using. Any heavily contaminated items should be thrown away.
All food that may have been contaminated must be destroyed. Initially this must be double bagged and placed in a sealed container to prevent attracting pests.
Contact your commercial waste contractor to arrange collection of this food in the normal way.
Wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves, Wellingtons, overalls etc. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling anything that may be contaminated and use hot soapy water and liquid anti-bacterial soap.
Do not use any electrical items or circuits as these may be unsafe. The circuits and equipment must be checked by a competent person (i.e. a qualified electrician) before using.
If you become ill or suffer any gastric symptoms following the clean up please visit your GP as soon as possible. Nobody should handle or prepare food if they are suffering from gastric illness (i.e. diarrhoea, vomiting etc.)
In significant cases of food loss we may be able to issue a 'voluntary surrender notice' to help with your insurance claim.

Power Cuts
A number of businesses will have suffered from power cuts and electric supplies to the city may be cut off on a rolling programme to help conserve energy.

High-risk food (such as meat, fish, dairy, egg, rice products etc.) must be kept at or below 8ºC to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
If your refrigerator/s have been without power for more than four hours it is important to immediately chill the food to below 8ºC or discard the food if you cannot do so. (Only one single period of up to four hours out of refrigeration)
Provided doors are kept closed food should remain frozen in disconnected freezers for up to 24 hours. If food has defrosted it should be safe if treated as chilled food, refrigerated and used up within a couple of days. If frozen food has risen above 8ºC for more than four hours the food should be thrown away.
If you are affected by intermittent power cuts consider using cool boxes and ensuring a ready supply of ice blocks and freeze these at times when the power is on.
Try to avoid opening refrigerator / freezer doors when the power is off. The temperature of an open fridge rises very quickly.
If you are unable to keep high-risk food under adequate temperature control you must close your business.

General Health and Safety

If cleaning up try to avoid contact with floodwater. Wear protective clothing including rubber gloves, Wellingtons, overalls etc. Avoid ingesting any water and wash hands thoroughly and regularly with hot water and liquid anti-bacterial soap.
Do not use any electrical equipment or circuits that have been flooded until checked and declared safe by a qualified electrician.
If the power supply is off assess the risk to your staff and customers and consider closing the business if necessary.
Do not use any internal lifts until power supplies are back to normal or your staff may become stranded if the supply is interrupted.
Use specialist detergents if cleaning up any petrol/oil and follow safety information from the manufacturer. Ensure adequate ventilation.
Do not enter any confined spaces e.g. cellars where there is known oil/petrol contamination.

Contact the Council's Environmental Health Service
If you need any more help or advice please call the Environmental Health Service on the following number.

Food Hygiene and Health & Safety at work: 01993 861060

Infectious diseases: 01993 861060 (or the Health Protection Agency on 01865 226858)

The information above is contained in a leaflet produced by the Council. Click to download the Flooding: Clean up advice leaflet.