Last summer, I taught an inspection course on behalf of the Indian Health Service for tribal members from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. They were interested in the training because they were about to institute an inspection and inventory program on tribal lands. Several questions prompted the training: What types of systems are on their lands? Are they operating properly? And how large a job is it to replace or repair failing systems?

This information will be used to create a plan within each reservation to systematically upgrade onsite systems. I had more than a professional interest in these activities because my lake cabin is within reservation boundaries. The class, though relatively small, included some experienced wastewater treatment system operators and new and inexperienced people. The focus of the class was on inspection procedures, but those just starting out asked the question: Are there things I should be worried about from a personal safety perspective?

The obvious answer here is yes! As we become more experienced in the industry, we have a tendency to take safety issues for granted and not worry enough about them. So this is a good opportunity to remind ourselves about the risks we encounter every day and measures we can take to prevent problems.

PROMOTE TRAINING

There should always be the opportunity and willingness to take training courses on health and safety issues for businesses and individuals who conduct inspections. This can include everything from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training on excavation and workplace safety to general health and safety and first aid courses conducted by your local state Extension Service or health services offices. Safety presentations should be a part of state association conferences and education events. It is your responsibility to know the rules and regulations that impact your business.

One other point before looking at some safety specifics: You should provide employees with a health and safety document. This should cover all aspects of your business. Having the document and an active training program will protect you, your employees and customers. From a regulatory standpoint, this will help with health and safety audits. Consult with your agency representatives to see what is required.

One of the first concerns voiced at the Indian Health Service workshop was the potential for exposure to disease by working around sewage. Domestic sewage can contain pathogens and disease-causing organisms including bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Examples of bacteria-caused diseases are E. coli infection and bacterial dysentery, viral diseases like polio and hepatitis, and those caused by protozoans such as amoebic dysentery. These are all good reasons to be careful as the system is opened and probed. This is also an area where, over time, we become less squeamish and unconcerned about the potential for sickness. Just because things become routine, we shouldn’t let our guard down during an inspection. Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems due to pathogens.

Always wear rubber gloves. This is often difficult because gloves get in the way of opening things and it is easy to become frustrated and remove them. Another point is that leather gloves do not make for good protection because the bacteria and viruses can stay in the leather, creating an ongoing risk for sickness.

Keep your hands and fingers away from your mouth, nose, eyes and ears, which are all places or paths for infection. Before eating or smoking wash your hands thoroughly. Treat any cuts or scratches immediately using an antibiotic and protect the area from contact with sewage.

Change clothing and shower immediately after work; a good strategy is to wear coveralls that can be put on and taken off at the site and kept in the back of the truck or trailer, away from the cab.

Wash work clothes separately from other household laundry. This goes not only for clothes but towels or rags used during work. They should be washed in hot water, preferably with a chlorine bleach for disinfection.

Have your immunizations up to date. These would be for typhoid, polio and hepatitis.

Have a first aid kit handy as well as a supply of insect repellent and hornet and wasp spray.

Have alcohol-based waterless hand cleaners along with antibacterial soaps and hand-wipes to use when washing hands when possible until leaving the work site. These can be used until you’re back at home or the shop where hands can be thoroughly washed.

CONSIDER YOUR EQUIPMENT

We often don’t think about the equipment we use, such as sludge judges, probes, hooks and soil augers, which can come in contact with the sewage. These implements should be cleaned away from houses, water sources and human contact. If appropriate, they can be washed into the septic tank. I always recommend technicians maintain a hose dedicated to this on the truck so they don’t need to rely on the homeowner’s hose and needlessly expose customers and their families to potential pathogens. Back at the shop, the tools can be washed in a bleach solution.

Next month we will look at some of the other safety issues onsite and pumping professionals need to keep top of mind.