Wastewater treatment is a vital part of environmental management, ensuring that wastewater from plant production is treated and meets water quality standards before being released back into the environment. The process involves several stages, including screening, clarification, sedimentation, biological treatment, and filtration, and it has an enormous effect not only on the production facility, but also on the environment around it.
“Suppose untreated wastewater or a chemical spill is discharged into the collection system, where it can directly disrupt the operations of municipal wastewater treatment facilities,” states DG’s Sustainability team. “The consequences are even more severe if untreated wastewater enters a natural body of water. This type of contamination can alter the water’s color, odor, and taste, cause damage to the ecosystem, affect agriculture, and pose significant risks to public health and safety. These risks highlight the importance of effectively managing treatment facilities by identifying and addressing local hazards that could lead to larger issues. Proper management ensures the safety of all parties involved in a project and protects the reputation of the contractor and the client.”
On site, the wastewater treatment process comes with its own set of challenges and hazards, both to the environment and to people. Common hazards faced by plant and construction workers include drowning, slips/trips/falls, exposure to energized equipment, and hazardous gases and chemicals. Workers also face risks from illnesses associated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Drowning remains a very real, high risk for workers performing maintenance, inspections, repairs, or other work near water tanks and who may accidentally fall in. Water tanks in wastewater treatment are often aerated to feed the microbes used to break down the waste material. This increased aeration decreases the water’s density and alters its buoyancy. Someone falling into the aerated water might not sink to the bottom but will have trouble floating.
Additionally, the upward current of air circulates the water, creating a down current that can make it harder to remain on the surface. Putting barriers, guardrails, and safety nets around water bodies, providing flotation devices, and ensuring proper training in water safety are essential measures to prevent drowning accidents.
Wastewater treatment facilities utilize various types of equipment, like augers and agitators, that are essential for the mixing, stirring, and processing of wastewater. This equipment often operates with electrical power, hydraulic systems, or other energy sources, posing a significant risk of electrocution, entanglement, or crushing injuries if proper precautions are not taken. Workers performing maintenance, repairs, or adjustments on energized equipment are at high risk of accidents if safety protocols are not diligently followed.
Tanks, pits, and tunnels are also major features of wastewater treatment facilities. These confined spaces pose unique hazards due to their limited entry and exit points, poor ventilation, and potential for hazardous atmospheres. Hazardous gases like hydrogen sulfide, methane, and carbon monoxide can accumulate to dangerous levels and pose severe risks to workers entering these areas. Hydrogen sulfide and methane are byproducts of the decomposition of organic materials that exist in the waste flows feeding the plant. These gases may build up, displacing oxygen and potentially causing an explosion when coupled with an ignition source. Proper ventilation to continuously circulate fresh air into the confined space can help keep build-up low, and atmospheric monitoring will help you keep an eye on oxygen levels.
From a biological standpoint, wastewater contains a plethora of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can pose significant health risks to workers if proper precautions aren’t taken. Contact with contaminated water or aerosols can lead to diseases like gastroenteritis, hepatitis, or even more severe illnesses. Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, and protective clothing, is crucial to preventing exposure to these biological hazards. Workers need to be trained in the potential health risks associated with exposure to pathogens present in wastewater. Regular monitoring of water quality and implementing necessary controls can mitigate biological hazards and reduce potential exposure to everyone onsite.
By considering these potential hazards and following safety requirements exposure to potential hazards involved with wastewater treatment operations can be greatly reduced. Keep in mind, not all hazards may always be visible to your eyes. Staying alert and well-informed on potential hazards and their mitigation strategies will help keep yourself and everyone else safe onsite.
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