Wastewater Safety

People who work with wastewater are exposed to many potential hazards, such as confined spaces, infectious diseases, toxic gases and chemicals, electric shock and parasitic infections. But by following proper safety protocols, workers can greatly reduce the risk of problems and injuries.

Drowning

• Wastewater processing equipment can create strong currents in storage tanks and other parts of the wastewater processing system. Fall-arrest equipment and personal flotation devices are a must when a worker has to lean over or work outside of safety railings.

Laundry

• Workers should have their clothes and boots cleaned at the wastewater treatment facility so as not to risk exposing family members and others to contaminants.

Hygiene

• To avoid illness, wastewater workers should thoroughly wash their hands with antibacterial soap before eating, drinking, smoking or using the toilet. Accidental contamination through tainted food and cigarettes is one of the most common sources of illness in wastewater workers, according to the National Biosolids Partnership, an alliance of agencies that promotes sound biosolids management.

Public Health

• The public should avoid contact with standing water and water running out of broken pipes; this water could be wastewater or could have come into contact with it. Report these problems to local authorities.

Wounds

• Wastewater workers should always cover cuts and other open sores. A wound dressing should be changed right away if it gets wet.