Essential Services: Protecting Our Water Workers and Keeping Our Communities Hydrated and Clean

What is something that you absolutely can’t live without? No, we’re not talking about your iPhone, we’re talking about water. Clean, accessible water is a vital part of our lives and that is why, in the second part of the series of our essential services, we are looking at how to protect those working in water essential services. 

The Stewards of Our Water 

Water essential services are made up of dedicated workers making sure that we have safe H2O to drink and clean with, including staff at water authorities, community water systems, and wastewater treatment facilities.

The Dangers Water Workers Face 

Wastewater treatment plant workers face a multitude of hazards, including: 

• Drowning  

• Slips, trips or falls 

• Confined spaces 

• Exposure to energized equipment 

• Exposure to human feces and illnesses associated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites 

• Exposure to gases and chemicals 

• Exposure to water-borne diseases such as diphtheria, dysentery, Legionnaire’s disease, and hepatitis A. 

Make Sure They Go Home to Their Families 

Despite the COVID-19 public health emergency, water and wastewater workers continue to work providing reliable water and wastewater services. The OSHA says that there isn’t any evidence that suggests wastewater treatment plant operators and sewer workers need additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19, but they do say that “wastewater treatment plant operations should ensure workers follow routine practices to prevent exposure to wastewater, including using the engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE normally required for work tasks when handling untreated wastewater.” 

However, there are several things that can be done to help protect water essential services and the committed workers who are providing this critical service. 

• Use PPEs such as goggles, protective face mask or splash-proof face shield, liquid-repellent coveralls, waterproof gloves, and rubber boots while working. 

• Provide training on basic hygiene practices, use and disposal of PPE, and proper handling of human waste or sewage. 

• Wash and sanitize hands frequently. 

• Get vaccinations for Hepatitis A and tetanus/diphtheria. 

• Avoid touching face, mouth, eyes, nose, or open sores and cuts while handling human waste or sewage. 

• Appropriately label all pipes and electrical systems. 

• Have first aid stations and kits, as well as rescue hooks and flotations devices readily available. 

• Before eating, removed soiled work clothes and eat in designated areas away from human waste and sewage-handling activities. 

• Use a worker monitoring service that can help workers by alerting an emergency if they slip and fall. If exposed to pathogens and they get sick, they are empowered to signal an emergency through this service. 

Read More from this COVID-19: Essential Services Series

• Are You An Essential Services Provider? Here’s How You Can Protect Your Team

• Essential Services: Energy Workers Protecting the Lives of Those Who Power Our Communities

• Essential Services: Heroes on the Front line - Protecting Our Home Healthcare Workers

• Essential Services: Protecting Public Works and Infrastructure Workers, The Champions Behind the Scene

• Essential Services: Food and Agriculture Workers, Protecting Those Who Feed Our Communities

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