Safety and Resilience in Disaster Debris Removal and Clean-Up Operations: A Field and Training Guide for Resilience Workers in Disaster Debris Removal and Cleanup

Authors

• Mohsen Shahandashti, Ph.D, P.E., University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow
• Abhijit Roy, Ph.D, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow
• Zhe Yin, Ph.D, P.E., PMP, LEED AP, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow
• Antonio Balderrama, Ph.D, P.E., University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow
• Sandesh Adhikari, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow
• Santosh Acharya, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow

Files

Description

A practical safety guide for the people who clear debris after disasters, and for the trainers who prepare them. Built for crews of every experience level--from seasoned operators to first-time volunteers--it teaches how to read a damaged site, recognize hidden and shifting hazards, work safely around heavy equipment and hazardous materials, and make sound decisions under pressure. Every chapter pairs clear guidance with a one-page field job aid, facilitator notes for trainers, and a real-world scenario, all grounded in OSHA, FEMA, EPA, and NIOSH guidance.

Safety and Resilience in Disaster Debris Removal and Clean-Up Operations Copyright © 2026 by Mohsen Shahandashti, Ph. D., P.E.; Abhijit Roy, Ph.D. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Unless otherwise noted, all images in the book are individually licensed. Please see image credits for additional information.

ISBN

978-1-64816-027-1

Publication Date

9-23-2026

Publisher

Mavs Open Press

City

Arlington

Disciplines

Civil Engineering | Construction Engineering and Management | Risk Analysis

Recommended Citation

Shahandashti,, Mohsen Ph.D, P.E.; Roy,, Abhijit Ph.D; Yin,, Zhe Ph.D, P.E., PMP, LEED AP; Balderrama,, Antonio Ph.D, P.E.; Adhikari, Sandesh; and Acharya, Santosh, "Safety and Resilience in Disaster Debris Removal and Clean-Up Operations: A Field and Training Guide for Resilience Workers in Disaster Debris Removal and Cleanup" (2026). Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/oer_mavsopenpress2/4