Preventing Illness and Accidents when working with Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

1. Preventing Illness and Accidents when working with Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Texas AgriLife Extension Service

2. Site or Job Specific Hazards Biological (Pathogens) Critters Equipment Electrical Confined Space Gases Ergonomics Personal Protective Equipment Areas of Contamination Immunization Basic Hygiene Limiting Access Overview

3. Why Do Accidents Happen? 1. Rushing • Slow and steady is better • Rushing makes you less effective 2. Eyes not on Path • Slips, trips and falls • Turn off the cell phone 3. Eyes not on Task • Impact injuries • Look where you are going or at what you are doing 4. Line of Fire • Exposure to sewage by “splash back” • Stay out of the way of danger

4. Common Biological Hazards in Sewage Rhinovirus – common cold Clostridium in septic tank Pseudomonas in drainfield Influenza virus E. coli 0157H7 Staphylococcus

5. Site Hazards • Electrical • Underground utilities • One call – locate utilities • Gases • Critters and Bugs: Snakes, bees, ants, hornets, and the danger of shock/startle. • Cuts and Abrasions • Confined Spaces • Ergonomic

6. Electrical Hazards • Use Lockout/Tagout Procedures • Do not override safeties • Tools to be grounded or insulated (and in good condition) • All electrical should be in conduit - but conduit costs more to install • Battery operated hand tools work well • DO only what you can safely do

7. Gases • Poisonous • Explosive • Sometimes both • Invisible but may have an odor (H2S) • Replaces/displaces O2or converts to something worse in the lungs

8. Gases and Chemicals of Concern • Hydrogen Sulfide • Sulfuric Acid (converted from H2S) • Chlorine Gas • CO(X)’s • Carbon Dioxide • Carbon Monoxide • Methane

9. Common Biological Hazards around the Site • Kids • Dogs • Cats • Insects • Snakes • Vegetation

10. Cuts and abrasions • Protect your hands while working on systems • Surfaces can cut your skin • Sharp edges • Rough surfaces

11. What are they? Large enough for someone to work Has limited openings for entry and exit Not designated for continuous occupancy Hazards Oxygen-deficient atmospheres Flammable atmospheres Toxic atmospheres Asphyxiation Headache Drowsiness Dizziness Nausea Never trust your senses!! Confined Spaces

12. This is an unsafe practice. Your head, body, etc. should never be in a confined space.

13. Ergonomics • Lifting techniques • Prevent back injuries using good lifting techniques • Lock your back before the lift • Don’t “lift” and “Twist” the lid • Lifting limits: Keep your crew in a “buddy system.” Loads are lighter, and makes good sense. • Use mechanical assistance • Hand truck - Pry bar

14. Lifting Techniques Incorrect Better! Much Better!

15. Two Working Together Is Always Better Than One! HEY, BUDDY! A LITTLE HELP WOULD BE NICE!!! Dum.. Dee ..Dum

16. Site Safety Considerations

17. What is good here? 1. Lids are right side up 2. No Kids 3. No Critters

18. What is bad here? 1. Site unattended 2. Hose 3. No back-flow preventer on hose 4. Shovel should be turned over 5. Lids/access open and exposed

19. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Goggles • Gloves • Respiratory devices • Clothing • Shoes • Ear plugs • First Aid Kit • Disinfectant Hand Wash

20. PPE and Personal Hygiene

21. PPE’s and Personal Hygiene What’s wrong? 1. No Gloves. What’s right? 2. Shovel turned wrong. 1. Lid right side up. 2. Screen over hole for rinsing.

22. What’s right? What’s wrong? 1. Gloves. 1. No Goggles. 2. Hose 2. Rinsing screen over inlet. 3. Back-flow preventer?

23. Doing it Right? 1. Use of providers hose with back-flow preventer 2. Lid turned right side up 3. Gloves 4. Coveralls

24. Problems? 1. Electrical hazard 2. Water in box – Or is it sewage? 3. No duct or conduit seal

25. Do You Need To Be Immunized? • Ask your personal physician • Ask the local health department • Know the risks • Vaccinations • Diphtheria • Tetanus • Consider, Hepatitis B • Increased risk of parasitic infection

26. Basic Hygiene • Never eat without washing hands • Always wear rubber boots when working on tanks, sewer lines, or septage • Always clean personal protective equipment • Always wear rubber or plastic coated gloves • Avoid putting on gloves with dirty hands • Wash your hands and face after each job • Keep your fingernails short and clean • Wash with plenty of water after contacting septage, wastewater, or any chemical

27. What Can You Do To Improve? • When you go home, don’t forget to protect against cross contamination. • Take off contaminated clothing in a separate area • Keep contaminated clothing separate from other laundry • Anything you touch with dirty hands or clothing is contaminated • Clean tools before storage

28. Pets and Access to Pathogens • Use care when performing landscape maintenance • Keep spray area dry to limit life of organisms • Don’t spray effluent on toys and furniture • Fix overflows • Dogs like wet areas to cool down • Is your pet carrying pathogens in the house?

29. Secure Lids to Limit Access • All lids must be secured • Special devices? • Children should not have unrestricted access to tanks. • February 17, 2009: Alisandra Galvan drowned in trash tank – Argyle, Texas • Playing in back yard • Lid not secured

30. Summary • You are responsible for you and your families safety. • Onsite wastewater treatment systems have many hazards that need to be addressed. • These systems do not contain drinking water. • Is your family pet the vector carrying pathogens into your home? • Keep safety screws in access lids.