Service technicians and electricians working at wastewater treatment plants and pump stations face hazards like exposure to waterborne diseases, toxic chemicals, and dangerous machinery. The risks can be reduced through good personal work habits like wearing proper personal protective equipment like gloves, not smoking or biting nails when working with sewage, and getting recommended vaccinations. Hazards in wastewater facilities include biological, toxic, flammable, corrosive, and reactive materials as well as low oxygen or toxic gas levels in confined spaces. Thorough hygiene practices like handwashing and changing clothes are important for safety.

1. WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
PLANT and
WASTEWATER
PUMP STATION
SAFETY

2. All service technicians and electricians at one time or
another might come in contact with potentially hazardous
processes and/or equipment in the performance of their
daily service duties. This includes contact with waterborne
diseases when working at a sewage treatment plant,
working on instruments in contact with toxic chemicals,
entering toxic confined spaces and working in the vicinity of
dangerous machinery.
The risk of exposure to these hazards can be greatly
reduced by adjusting personal work habits, obtaining
certain inoculations and being attentive to established
procedures and regulations.
PERSONAL WORK HABITS AND SAFETY

3. There is a high potential for
illnesses arising from contact
with viruses, bacteria and
other microorganisms in
sewage. The most serious
viral risk is hepatitis. The
most serious bacterial risk is
tetanus.
WEAR YOUR GLOVES

4. The main routes of exposure
are hand-to-mouth contact.
Breathing in a suspension of
particles (aerosols) is a less
common means of exposure
but may occur whenever
sewage is agitated or
aerosolized. This occurs most
commonly near incoming
wastewater inlets and sludge
treatment areas

5. DO NOT SMOKE when working in
an area contaminated with
sewage or toxic chemicals.
It is impossible to avoid
contamination of ends of pipes,
cigars and cigarettes.
H2S is commonly found in Waste
Water Treatment Confined Spaces
and is highly flammable.

6. • Do Not Bite Your Nails
Contamination is easily collected
under and around the FINGER NAILS
• Keep your Hands below your collar.
A majority of infections reach the
body through the mouth, nose, eyes
and ears.

7. Wash Hands Thoroughly
Before
• Eating
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Urinating
• Donning Gloves
• Inserting Ear Plugs
• Applying Sun-Block

8. ASK PLANT PERSONNEL
Before working on equipment in
contact with and Unknown Chemical or
Substance, ask the plant personnel to
see a SDS. Some chemicals may not
appear to have immediate health
effects but the long term effects could
be fatal or permanently debilitating.

9. Transport soiled clothes in a
separate plastic bag to
avoid contaminating other
clothes, your vehicle, home,
children, etc. Wash
contaminated clothing
separately from non-work
related clothing and family
laundry
WEAR YOUR PPE
Face shield, Tyvek,
Rubber Boots Would
have been very helpful

10. Keep a spare change of work clothes in your vehicle.
If you are splashed with any contaminated fluid be sure
to remove the soiled clothing as soon as possible and
wash thoroughly with Soap and Water. If the fluid is a
toxic substance, disposal of the clothing may be in
order along with proper personal cleanup and or
medical attention as directed by the SDS.
Antibiotics should be applied immediately to all minor
cuts and scratches
Rubber boots should be worn in damp/wet places to
prevent foot infections. This is especially true in a
sewage plant environment as the infections can be
more devastating than the common athletes foot type.

11. Hazardous Materials
Biological – These substances are living organisms that can
produce sickness or death when in contact with the human
body.
TOXIC – most chemicals are toxic at some level of exposure, if
allowed to enter the body through the nose, mouth or skin they
can make you sick or cause death.
Flammable or Combustible – this category includes those
materials that catch fire easily, burn rapidly, spread fire quickly
and give off intense heat.

12. Hazardous Materials Continued
CORROSIVE: materials like strong acids and bases can eat
through other substances, i.e. clothing. If splashed on the
skin or into eyes, they can cause serious burns or
blindness.
REACTIVE: These materials have to be isolated, stored in
special containers and used with extreme caution. Some
can ignite when exposed to air or water or when mixed
with other substances. It’s important to note that reactive
materials don’t have to near hear or flames to burn. They
may ignite spontaneously and can give off vapors.
EXPLOSIVE: Some materials can explode when exposed to
heat, flame or shock. Included in this category are
materials like flammable liquids and compressed gases,
which explode under certain conditions.

13. CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT
Before Transporting contaminated equipment be sure
that either you or our customer thoroughly clean it. Most
repair departments will not handle or work on equipment
that is obviously contaminated in as pulled condition.
Work with local operations to clean equipment properly.
Donning Chemical Resistant Suit Properly
Put suit on in clean area to prevent contamination.
Wear proper gloves, Wear Face Shield and Goggles if
necessary to prevent splash contamination to eyes,
mouth and nose area. Wear Tyvek over rubber boots and
gloves

14. Vaccination recommendations for
workers exposed to sewage or
human waste
Tetanus vaccinations should be up to date
With consideration also given to
the need for:
• Polio vaccinations
• Typhoid fever vaccinations
• Hepatitis A vaccinations

15. Confined Spaces Containing
Sewage and Organic Matter
Confined spaces containing sewage can
sometimes be deficient in oxygen due to
organic oxidation and displacement by
carbon dioxide. They can also contain
flammable gases such as methane and
toxic gases such as carbon monoxide
and hydrogen sulphide. Carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other
exhaust gases may sometimes be
present due to a poorly located gasoline
engine or generator exhausting into the
confined space. Chloroform is a common

16. Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Minimizing exposure time in areas where aerosolizing is
occurring.
• Make sure ventilation systems are functioning properly
when working around areas where sewage may be
aerosolized.
• Thoroughly cleanse all exposed injuries with soap and
water and keep them covered with a bandage (preferably
waterproof) while at work.
• (Avoid contaminated areas when you have open wound).
• Seek medication attention immediately after suffering cuts
or penetrating injuries.
• If a worker is suffering from a skin problem, they should
see a physician before working with sewage.

17. Hygiene Review
Avoid touching the face, mouth, hands, eyes or nose with dirty
hands or other items and avoid nail biting.
Keep Eating and Changing Areas free of contamination by
leaving any protective clothing and boots in a separate area, for
example.
Use appropriate protective clothing at work (coveralls) and
personal protective equipment (boots, gloves, plastic face
shields) and, where required wearing respiratory protective
equipment.
Remove personal protective clothing and footwear at the end of
the shift and leave it at work.
Symptoms of exposure may include:
cramping stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting ii. yellowing of the
skin iii. symptoms of breathlessness, chest tightness and
wheezing iv. redness and pain of the eyes v. skin rash and/or
pain