Effective safety practices for companies in the water utility sector are the building blocks of a successful company. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that most companies have established comprehensive safety policies, procedures, and protocols to protect their people. In this article, we will cover the main safety risks of working in the water industry and some safe practices that will help to mitigate these hazards.
Key Health and Safety Risks and Remedies for Employees in the Water Sector
Workers in the water sector may be required to supervise wastewater plants, monitor meters, or check water quality at remote pumping stations or reservoirs. If the worker is alone, these tasks have inevitable risks: high voltage materials, hazardous or contaminated water, poisonous chemicals, and toxic gases. Working alone in conditions where some or all these risks are present can be extremely dangerous. See our previous blog article - Top 7 Workplace Safety Hazards in the United States.
Like several other sectors where employees work remotely, the water industry often involves lone time on the road. The risks that come with driving are notable. Weather conditions, as well as the unpredictable behavior of other drivers on the road, make driving a huge safety risk for employees. Road hazards can be minimized by installing tracking devices on vehicles. These devices not only share exact GPS coordinates of the worker, they can also be used to improve driver behavior on the road. These features have a high chance of reducing road accidents during working hours. You can read more on proactive and reactive safety measures in workplace safety in our previous blog article.
Employees who work in the water industry are often required to work closely with traffic. Job sites that are in close proximity to fast-moving vehicles are always prone to higher workplace risks. Improved worker visibility can help to reduce the risk of a worker getting hit. Reflective clothing and bright colors are also very effective. Companies should always put up ‘reduced speed limit’ signs in order to warn cars of upcoming construction zones. Best practices like these could save the lives of water industry workers who are required to work close to traffic.
Next, it is very common for water industry workers to be required to perform their jobs in confined spaces such as pipes, sewers, or access tunnels. Working in confined spaces creates the risk of oxygen deficiency, excessive heat, flammable or explosive environments, and poisonous gas or liquid build-up. These risks can be managed by making sure all water workers use a breathing apparatus, protective clothing like boots, chemical suits, and glasses, in addition to a ventilator to provide free flow of oxygen if necessary. Best practices require that if ventilation is provided, there must also be a functioning audio or visual warning system that will notify the worker if the ventilation system fails. Doing a quick check to see if the work can be done another way is also worthwhile since avoiding entry into confined spaces is the easiest way to reduce the associated hazards.
Water companies also use a wide spectrum of chemicals, the majority of which pose significant health risks for workers. Toxic gas is extremely dangerous, in addition to gases produced as a result of wastewater and treatment processes. Working safely in the presence of toxic materials may seem like a difficult task, but these risks can be managed. To avoid exposure to hazardous material, ventilation is a common control measure. A functioning ventilation system will remove toxic vapors, fumes, mists, or dust from the workplace environment before they come in contact with workers. It’s essential that employees are educated on the warning signs of poisoning, as well as appropriate first aid procedures.
It is typical for employees in the water industry to work in isolation at remote work sites. This presents countless risks, given the nature of lone working. Employing a safety solution like Scatterling ensures reliable 24/7 lone worker monitoring via a working alone check in app - a fail-proof check-in system that regularly confirms the safety of your people, and a wearable panic button which allows workers to immediately signal an emergency.
Improving Health and Safety in the Water Industry is Essential
Employers have a moral duty to take all necessary precautions to ensure a safe workplace for their employees. This duty does not exclude employers in the water industry. Lone water workers are often overlooked; the people who are responsible for our water supply are not the first people on our minds when we turn on the shower. However, these workers are the ones who are required to work in secluded and potentially hazardous conditions and locations. It is crucial that these best practices are put in place to improve the health and safety of employees in the water industry. You can find more tactics for mitigating risks for water industry workers found in our previous blog article Mitigating Risks for Lone Workers in Water Companies.