Preventing Illness and Preventing Illness and Accidents when Accidents when

working with Onsite working with Onsite Wastewater Treatment Wastewater Treatment

SystemsSystems

Texas AgriLife Extension Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceService

OverviewOverview

Site or Job Specific Site or Job Specific Hazards Hazards Biological (Pathogens)Biological (Pathogens) CrittersCritters EquipmentEquipment ElectricalElectrical Confined SpaceConfined Space GasesGases ErgonomicsErgonomics

Personal Protective Personal Protective EquipmentEquipment

Areas of Areas of ContaminationContamination

ImmunizationImmunization Basic HygieneBasic Hygiene Limiting AccessLimiting Access

Why Do Accidents Happen?Why Do Accidents Happen?1. Rushing1. Rushing

Slow and steady is betterSlow and steady is better Rushing makes you less effectiveRushing makes you less effective

2. Eyes not on Path 2. Eyes not on Path Slips, trips and fallsSlips, trips and falls Turn off the cell phoneTurn off the cell phone

3. Eyes not on Task3. Eyes not on Task Impact injuries Impact injuries Look where you are going or at what you are Look where you are going or at what you are

doingdoing

4. Line of Fire4. Line of Fire Exposure to sewage by “splash back”Exposure to sewage by “splash back” Stay out of the way of dangerStay out of the way of danger

Common Biological Hazards in SewageCommon Biological Hazards in Sewage

Rhinovirus – Rhinovirus – common coldcommon cold

Influenza virusInfluenza virus E. coli 0157H7E. coli 0157H7StaphylococcusStaphylococcus

Clostridium in Clostridium in septic tankseptic tank

Pseudomonas Pseudomonas in drainfieldin drainfield

Site HazardsSite Hazards

ElectricalElectrical Underground utilities Underground utilities One call – locate utilitiesOne call – locate utilities

GasesGases Critters and Bugs:Critters and Bugs: Snakes, bees, ants, hornets, and Snakes, bees, ants, hornets, and

the danger of shock/startle.the danger of shock/startle.

Cuts and AbrasionsCuts and Abrasions Confined SpacesConfined Spaces ErgonomicErgonomic

Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazards

Use Lockout/Tagout ProceduresUse Lockout/Tagout Procedures Do not override safetiesDo not override safeties Tools to be grounded or insulated (and in Tools to be grounded or insulated (and in

good condition)good condition) All electrical should be in conduit - but conduit All electrical should be in conduit - but conduit

costs more to install costs more to install Battery operated hand tools work wellBattery operated hand tools work well DO only what you can safely doDO only what you can safely do

GasesGases

PoisonousPoisonous ExplosiveExplosive Sometimes bothSometimes both Invisible but may have an odor (HInvisible but may have an odor (H22S)S) Replaces/displaces OReplaces/displaces O22 or converts to or converts to

something worse in the lungssomething worse in the lungs

Gases and Chemicals of Gases and Chemicals of ConcernConcern

Hydrogen SulfideHydrogen Sulfide Sulfuric Acid (converted from HSulfuric Acid (converted from H22S)S) Chlorine GasChlorine Gas COCO(X)’s(X)’s

Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide

MethaneMethane

Common Biological Hazards Common Biological Hazards around the Sitearound the Site

KidsKids DogsDogs CatsCats InsectsInsects SnakesSnakes VegetationVegetation

Cuts and abrasionsCuts and abrasions

Protect your hands while working on systems

Surfaces can cut your skin

Sharp edges Rough surfaces

Confined SpacesConfined Spaces What are they?What are they?

Large enough for Large enough for someone to worksomeone to work

Has limited openings for Has limited openings for entry and exitentry and exit

Not designated for Not designated for continuous occupancycontinuous occupancy

HazardsHazards Oxygen-deficient Oxygen-deficient

atmospheresatmospheres Flammable atmospheresFlammable atmospheres Toxic atmospheresToxic atmospheres

AsphyxiationAsphyxiation HeadacheHeadache DrowsinessDrowsiness DizzinessDizziness NauseaNausea

Never trust your Never trust your senses!!senses!!

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

confined space.confined space.

ErgonomicsErgonomics

Lifting techniquesLifting techniques Prevent back injuries using good lifting Prevent back injuries using good lifting

techniquestechniques Lock your back before the liftLock your back before the lift Don’t “lift” and “Twist” the lidDon’t “lift” and “Twist” the lid

Lifting limits: Keep your crew in a “buddy Lifting limits: Keep your crew in a “buddy system.” system.” Loads are lighter, and makes good sense.Loads are lighter, and makes good sense.

Use mechanical assistanceUse mechanical assistance Hand truck - Pry barHand truck - Pry bar

Lifting TechniquesLifting Techniques

Two Working Two Working Together Is Together Is

Always Better Always Better Than One!Than One!

HEY, BUDDY! A HEY, BUDDY! A LITTLE HELP LITTLE HELP WOULD BE NICE!!!WOULD BE NICE!!!

Dum.. Dum.. Dee ..Dee ..DumDum

Site Safety ConsiderationsSite Safety Considerations

What is good What is good here?here?

2. No Kids2. No Kids3. No Critters3. No Critters

1. Lids are right 1. Lids are right side upside up

What is bad What is bad here?here?

2. Hose2. Hose

4. Shovel should be 4. Shovel should be turned overturned over

5. Lids/access open 5. Lids/access open and exposedand exposed

1. Site unattended1. Site unattended

3. No back-flow 3. No back-flow preventer on hosepreventer on hose

Personal Protective Equipment Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)(PPE)

GogglesGoggles GlovesGloves Respiratory devicesRespiratory devices ClothingClothing ShoesShoes Ear plugsEar plugs First Aid KitFirst Aid Kit Disinfectant Hand Disinfectant Hand

WashWash

PPE and Personal HygienePPE and Personal Hygiene

PPE’s and Personal HygienePPE’s and Personal Hygiene

What’s right?What’s right?

1. Lid right side up. 1. Lid right side up.

What’s What’s wrong?wrong?

2. Screen over hole 2. Screen over hole for rinsing. for rinsing.

1. No Gloves. 1. No Gloves.

2. Shovel turned 2. Shovel turned wrong. wrong.

What’s right?What’s right?

1. Gloves. 1. Gloves.

What’s What’s wrong?wrong?

2. Rinsing screen 2. Rinsing screen over inlet. over inlet.

1. No Goggles. 1. No Goggles.

2. Hose 2. Hose

3. Back-flow 3. Back-flow preventer? preventer?

Doing it Right?Doing it Right?

2. Lid turned right 2. Lid turned right side upside up

3. Gloves3. Gloves

4. Coveralls4. Coveralls

1. Use of providers 1. Use of providers hose with back-hose with back-flow preventerflow preventer

Problems?Problems?

2. Water in box – Or is 2. Water in box – Or is it sewage?it sewage?

3. No duct or conduit 3. No duct or conduit sealseal

1. Electrical hazard1. Electrical hazard

Do You Need To Be Immunized?Do You Need To Be Immunized?

Ask your personal physician Ask your personal physician Ask the local health departmentAsk the local health department Know the risksKnow the risks

VaccinationsVaccinations• DiphtheriaDiphtheria• TetanusTetanus• Consider, Hepatitis BConsider, Hepatitis B

Increased risk of parasitic infectionIncreased risk of parasitic infection

Basic HygieneBasic Hygiene

Never eat without washing handsNever eat without washing hands Always wear rubber boots when working on Always wear rubber boots when working on

tanks, sewer lines, or septagetanks, sewer lines, or septage Always clean personal protective equipmentAlways clean personal protective equipment Always wear rubber or plastic coated glovesAlways wear rubber or plastic coated gloves Avoid putting on gloves with dirty handsAvoid putting on gloves with dirty hands Wash your hands and face after each jobWash your hands and face after each job Keep your fingernails short and cleanKeep your fingernails short and clean Wash with plenty of water after contacting Wash with plenty of water after contacting

septage, wastewater, or any chemicalseptage, wastewater, or any chemical

What Can You Do To Improve?What Can You Do To Improve?

When you go home, don’t forget to protect When you go home, don’t forget to protect against cross contamination.against cross contamination. Take off contaminated clothing in a separate Take off contaminated clothing in a separate

areaarea Keep contaminated clothing separate from other Keep contaminated clothing separate from other

laundrylaundry Anything you touch with dirty hands or clothing is Anything you touch with dirty hands or clothing is

contaminatedcontaminated Clean tools before storageClean tools before storage

Pets and Access to PathogensPets and Access to Pathogens Use care when performing landscape Use care when performing landscape

maintenancemaintenance Keep spray area dry to limit life of Keep spray area dry to limit life of

organismsorganisms Don’t spray effluent on toys and furnitureDon’t spray effluent on toys and furniture Fix overflowsFix overflows Dogs like wet areas to cool downDogs like wet areas to cool down

Is your pet carrying pathogens in the house?Is your pet carrying pathogens in the house?

Secure Lids to Limit AccessSecure Lids to Limit Access All lids must be securedAll lids must be secured Special devices?Special devices? Children should not have unrestricted Children should not have unrestricted

access to tanks.access to tanks. February 17, 2009: Alisandra Galvan February 17, 2009: Alisandra Galvan

drowned in trash tank – Argyle, Texasdrowned in trash tank – Argyle, Texas Playing in back yardPlaying in back yard Lid not securedLid not secured

SummarySummary You are responsible for you and your You are responsible for you and your

families safety.families safety. Onsite wastewater treatment systems Onsite wastewater treatment systems

have many hazards that need to be have many hazards that need to be addressed.addressed.

These systems do not contain drinking These systems do not contain drinking water.water.

Is your family pet the vector carrying Is your family pet the vector carrying pathogens into your home?pathogens into your home?

Keep safety screws in access lids.Keep safety screws in access lids.