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Water treatment plant safety is especially complicated because these facilities typically have multiple hazards that each require unique solutions. Water treatment technicians often need to climb ladders, work on slippery surfaces, access confined spaces, work around potentially hazardous chemicals, and operate machinery that could cause injuries. To protect workers from these risks, facilities need to provide appropriate safety equipment like fall protection harnesses, shock-absorbing lanyards, and machine guards. Here, we will go over common hazards and the latest solutions water treatment plants can use to help mitigate them.
Using Fall Protection to Mitigate Fall Hazards
Because water treatment facilities are more likely than other worksites to be wet or humid, workers are at risk of slipping and falling even while walking on flat surfaces. To prevent slipping, facilities should install railings in potentially slippery areas. Depending on the relevant safety regulations, some workers may also need to use horizontal lifelines for additional fall protection when working on raised platforms. These lifelines enable workers to move around the worksite while attached to a fall arrest system in case of a fall. They offer more flexibility than vertical systems that only allow the worker to move up and down.
Water treatment plants often house tanks that require climbing on or into for service and maintenance, as well as other areas that require workers to operate at height. In these settings, essential workers fall safety equipment should include well-fitting harnesses and energy-absorbing lanyards or self retracting lifelines, depending on the clearance. Ensure that each worker has a correctly sized harness to allow them to work comfortably and securely. Energy absorbing lanyards, or self retracting lifelines, provide water treatment plant fall protection by distributing the force generated by a fall to minimize the risk of injury. These devices allow the fall protection system to catch the worker and absorb the energy, reducing the chances of a shock-related injury that may make returning to the ground safely more difficult.
Addressing Common Hazards in Confined Spaces
Water treatment facilities may include vats or water tanks that workers need to access for repairs and maintenance. Workers may also have offsite responsibilities that require them to enter confined spaces in the field, such as manholes. Confined spaces are known as one of the biggest hazards for water treatment technicians, but within them also come a number of other risks, including falls and other health hazards. A comprehensive water treatment plant fall protection strategy includes both providing appropriate safety equipment and having emergency plans in place.
Most confined spaces are either outside of the facility or accessed infrequently. In these cases, movable anchor points are a key piece of utility worker fall safety equipment. These anchor points are simple to set up and can support either one or two workers in case of a fall. Movable anchor points come in a selection of shapes and sizes to allow them to fit into different confined settings. If workers need to enter a confined space in the water treatment facility regularly, the facility may choose to install a permanent anchor point in that area. Both permanent and movable anchor points provide essential water treatment plant fall protection that allows workers to operate safely and effectively.
In a confined space, water treatment plant safety isn't limited to fall protection. Toxic gases can build up in certain spaces, and oxygen levels can drop to unsafe levels. Before workers enter a confined space, an individual with the proper training needs to perform any atmospheric tests required in that particular setting. Always check OSHA regulations for confined space work to ensure that the facility is meeting its requirements. If workers can't avoid working near toxic chemicals or high bacteria levels, ensure that you provide the necessary personal protective equipment, such as goggles, respirators, and gloves, for that setting.
Finally, confined spaces unexpectedly filling with water is another serious risk to water treatment plant safety. To minimize this risk, water valves may need to be turned off before work begins in a tank. Harnesses and lifelines should also be set up to allow for a quick evacuation if necessary. Setting up an emergency evacuation plan ahead of time is especially important during fieldwork where workers are likely to be unfamiliar with the worksite.
Common Machinery Hazards
In addition to utility worker fall safety equipment, water treatment facilities need to consider how to protect workers from the risks of working around certain equipment. There are two major options for securing machines: guardrail systems and safeguarding strategies. Facilities should always consult OSHA regulations and guidelines to ensure that they're providing appropriate protection around the particular machines they use.
Machine guards are physical barriers that attach to the machine and block hazardous parts. These guardrail systems need to enclose the dangerous machine parts while allowing the worker enough access and visibility to do their job properly. Depending on what's most appropriate for the setting, guards can either be permanent or adjustable, and are often outfitted with an access gate.
Safeguarding devices prevent a worker from getting too close to the hazardous part of the machine. Depending on the facility's needs, these can include controls that require a worker to operate the machine with two hands, sensors that don't allow the machine to start if an individual is standing too close, and other systems and restrictions.
Water Treatment Facilities Solutions with Tractel®
Water treatment facilities provide essential services since every community requires clean and safe water. Ensuring that the workers in these facilities are safe while performing necessary work is a multi-faceted responsibility. Managers need to consider utility worker fall safety equipment, confined space strategies, and machine guarding. When reviewing all of these hazards, facilities should always consult relevant OSHA and CCOHS rules to ensure that they're following their local guidelines. Tractel® offers all of the safety equipment water treatment plants need. Our safety experts can also work with plant managers to choose the best solutions for that facility. Contact us to discuss your water treatment plant's safety needs today.