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Worker Health & Safety
a Solid Contact Clarifier Tank type Sludge Recirculation process in water treatment plant

Helping Enhance Worker Health and Safe

Quality PPE for Wastewater and Water Treatment Workers

Take on workplace hazards for a safe and healthy shift.

Water treatment workers may not always realize it, but they can be exposed to a variety of hazards every day. These include working at height, biohazards and respiratory hazards – not only from the sewage and wastewater itself, but also from the chemicals used to treat it. Not to mention the unique hazards posed by working in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.

Education and the proper use of PPE are among the ways to help protect workers against these hazards at every step. 3M offers a comprehensive portfolio of quality personal protective equipment designed for comfort – and backed by over 50 years of experience in the science of safety.

Where might hazards be present?

Click the red button to learn more.
  • Illustration of a water waste treatment plant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Intake

Intake Process Icon

In addition to the hazards of confined spaces, workers may be exposed to source water hazards.

Solids Separation

Solids Separation Process Icon

Workers removing debris from bar screens can be exposed to sewage and hazardous foreign objects.

Primary Clarification

Primary Clarification Process Icon

When clearing material with hand rakes, workers may be exposed to biohazards and foreign objects.

Primary Sedimentation

Primary Sedimentation Process Icon

Workers handling wastewater in the clarifier may be exposed to biological splash hazards.

Chemical Treatment

Chemical Treatment Process Icon

Workers handling chlorine or hazardous treatment chemicals may be exposed via inhalation or liquid splash. 

Secondary Clarification

Chemical Treatment Process Icon

Workers handling chlorine or hazardous treatment chemicals may be exposed via inhalation or liquid splash. 

Final Sedimentation

Final Sedimentation Process Icon

Workers taking water samples may experience nuisance noise from the discharge waterway.

Disinfection and Discharge

Disinfection and Discharge Process Icon

In addition to the hazards of confined spaces, workers may be exposed to chemical hazards.

As the need for clean water grows, so does the need for water treatment workers. With plant infrastructure aging and water costs rising, these workers are facing new pressures. The World Economic Forum ranks wastewater treatment work as eighth in a list of the ten most “unhealthy” jobs because of the risks:
 

  • Biological: gastrointestinal and upper respiratory illnesses
  • Physical: cuts, burns, blunt force injury, accidental drowning
  • Chemical: irritation, injury or death from contact or inhalation
  • World Economic Forum

See how 3M can help

3M Solutions by Process

As the number of wastewater treatment facilities grows, so does the need to keep these critical workers safe on the job. Workers must not only be provided with quality PPE, but they must also be educated about its proper wear and use. With our comprehensive portfolio of PPE solutions – along with our library of training and education materials – 3M is your resource for safety at every step of the water treatment process.

Browse the following section to view potential risks, where they may be present, and how 3M PPE can help protect workers against the daily hazards of their jobs.*

*The following options do not reflect all required PPE for a given application or hazard. Reference and follow all local regulations.

  • Step 1: Intake

    • Intake Process Icon Step-by-Step
      • Pump station: While generally a closed process, routine maintenance can involve working in confined spaces.
         
      • Source water: the type of biological, chemical and physical hazards present in wastewater – and the type of agents used to treat it – can differ based on the source of the water itself. Consider these examples of hazards that may be present:
         
        • Sewage: bacteria, viruses, parasites in human waste
        • Stormwater: physical hazards washed down drains
        • Agricultural runoff: pesticides, fertilizer
        • Manufacturing discharge: oil, corrosive chemicals
        • Medical: pharmaceuticals, infectious diseases
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

    • Solids Separation Process Icon Step-by-Step
      • Bar screens: As large solids are removed from inflowing water, objects can become lodged in the equipment and require manual removal. At this point, workers can be exposed to direct contact with sewage and its biohazards. This is also the step where nuisance odors are most prominent. Disposable or reusable respirators may be beneficial for worker comfort, in addition to helping protect against exposure to possible airborne biological hazards.
         
      • Potential hazards:
         
        • Physical: cuts on sharp objects, accidental injection (needles)
        • Biological: skin and eye exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
        • Airborne: strong nuisance odors
        • Falls: reaching over the guard rail with a rake to remove clogged objects
        • Noise: nuisance noise from machinery; communications could be desirable for ease of talking with control room operator or inter-team communications.
           
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

    • primary clarification illustration
      • Settling tanks, grit chambers and solids removal: After solids are separated out via aeration basin or settling tank, they are removed with an augur or conveyor and pumped into a dumpster or dump truck. Workers do not typically contact the wastewater material but may occasionally need to clear the bar grate. In that case, they may be exposed to biological splash hazards and hazardous foreign objects.
         
      • Potential hazards:
         
        • Airborne: nuisance odors
        • Biological: skin and eye exposure to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
        • Physical: cuts on sharp objects, accidental injection (needles)
        • Falls: climbing dumpster or dump truck to move material
        • Noise: nuisance noise from auger or conveyor; communications could be desirable for ease of talking with control room operator or inter-team communications
           
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

    • Secondary Clarification Illustration Icon
      • Chemical feed/aeration and biological reduction: Here, the hazard shifts from the wastewater itself to the hazards of the chemicals or bacteria added to treat it. Under normal operating conditions, these are closed systems designed to prevent worker exposure. However, certain tasks may involve handling of chlorine or other hazardous materials. Workers may be exposed to chemical splashes and sprays, for example, when they connect the piping between the tanker truck and storage tanks.
      • The required PPE will depend on the chemical or biological agents used – which in turn depends on the composition of the wastewater being treated. But many of these chemicals can cause significant injury via contact or inhalation. Some, like chlorine, can be deadly. Workers should be equipped with robust respiratory protection and have access to supplied air or escape breathing apparatus in case of emergency.
         
      • Potential hazards:
         
        • Chemical: inhalation of gas/fumes, skin irritation or burns from contact with liquid
        • Oxygen deprivation: emergency air supply should be available in case of accidental release
        • Noise: nuisance noise from truck pumps; communications could be desirable for ease of talking with control room operator or inter-team communications
           
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

    • Final Sedimentation Illustration Icon
      • Water sampling: At this point, the water is nearly clear and there are few hazards. Workers may choose to use safety glasses instead of goggles.
         
      • Potential nuisance:
         
        • Noise: ambient noise from discharge waterway; communications could be desirable for ease of talking with control room operator or inter-team communications
           
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

    • Full Water Waste Treatment Illustration Icon
      • Final treatment: Chlorine, iodine, ozone or UV radiation may be used to destroy remaining organisms the treatment process has so far not removed before the water re-enters the environment. Workers may be exposed to chlorine or other hazardous chemicals; PPE will depend on the treatment method used.
      • If emergency breathing equipment is required, it should be regularly inspected and workers should be trained in its operation.
         
      • Potential hazards:
         
        • Oxygen deprivation: emergency air supply should be available
        • Chemical: inhalation of gas/fumes, skin irritation or burns from contact with liquid
        • Noise: ambient noise from nearby river; communications could be desirable for ease of talking with control room operator or inter-team communications
           
      • Potential 3M PPE:
         

3M Solutions by Hazard

Use the dropdown filter below to select a water treatment hazard and browse related 3M PPE.*

*The following options do not reflect all required PPE for a given application or hazard. Reference and follow all local regulations

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Training, News and Events

  • Utilities and Energy Training Icon
    In-person: Training Courses and Seminars

    3M offers a variety of tools, courses, seminars and software to support your PPE safety training needs.

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    eLearning: Worker Health & Safety

    Need it now? No matter how busy your schedule, 3M can help you increase your knowledge of PPE and related workplace health and safety topics.

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    Online Technical Resources

    Find in-depth information about respiratory, hearing, fall protection and more in our Digital Training Library.

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