watch out! Your life is in danger

Safety precautions in water purification plants.

By Magazine Team Last updated Nov 15, 2022 985 0

Contents

1 Types of hazards that face water treatment facility workers and their safety precautions

1.1 Noise control

1.2 Electrical accidents

1.3 Fire Safety Systems

4 Dealing with Tour Groups

5 References

“What a hot day! “A phrase that we always say, especially in summer, when we feel thirsty, we get up and bring a cup of cool, refreshing water.

Have you ever thought of how many dangers and crises are faced by workers in water treatment and purification plants until this cup of water reaches you?!

Water purification is a dangerous trap, but there are ways to avoid them by following the occupational safety and health recommendations in every water purification and treatment plant.

We will take you on a quick tour exploring how facility workers deal with these hazards.

Types of hazards that face water treatment facility workers and their safety precautions

Noise control

Wastewater treatment plants contain huge mechanical equipment to clean used water and sewage so they can be returned safely to our environment.

These pieces of machines and processes have high noise levels such as hydraulic pumps, generators, noisy pipes and exhaust fans.

Neighbors and internal workers are looking for ways to mitigate this noise. Let’s see how we can mitigate it!

Effective noise control engineering can provide a wide range of effective solutions including

Equipment Location: Locating the noisiest equipment as far as neighboring properties should be the first step.

Facility Ventilation: Plant enclosures are often made of materials that reduce noise levels in surrounding areas.

However, these structures frequently contain wall-mounted fans and ventilation louvers, which allow noise to radiate from the structure to nearby residences.

Variable Frequency Drives (VFD): Adjusting the speed of most rotating devices based on the required load.

Modern fans, electric motors and pumps can all be outfitted with a variable-frequency drive.

Data has shown that operating an electric motor at 70% of capacity can reduce sound pressure by 75%.

Emergency Generators: Most pump stations and water treatment facilities have emergency power available.

Because of their infrequent operation, noise from emergency generators and accompanying equipment should not be neglected.

Generator manufacturers and third-party vendors both sell acoustically approved enclosures.

Noise from an emergency generator installed within an existing structure can also be efficiently minimized by employing a suitable exhaust muffler and treating air ventilation apertures with acoustical louvers or duct silencers.

Electrical accidents

Water treatment plants represent an unusual combination of predictable and somewhat unpredictable conditions that result in a hostile environment for electrical equipment.

This is because of the presence of contaminated water, caustic liquids and fumes, as well as combustible gases produced by the waste breakdown. Rodents pose an extra risk.

There are five distinct concerns

External Protection against Corrosion

Numerous substances that are corrosive may be present in industrial wastewater.

Furthermore, gases such as hydrogen sulfide are produced during the decomposition of human waste, which can cause havoc on exposed carbon steel structures.

Various chemicals used in water treatment, such as sulfuric acid, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, are very corrosive even at low concentrations.

As a result, the only realistic approach is to build electrical enclosures out of stainless steel.

The electrostatically applied epoxy coating must be applied to cover other surfaces, such as air conditioning unit coils so that nothing is exposed to chemical attack.

Internal Protection from Chemical Liquids and Vapors

Electrical contact materials can get tarnished and corroded.

To keep corrosive gases and liquids out, electrical enclosures should be completely sealed.

To decrease heat rise, electrical enclosures must be equipped with closed-loop enclosure cooling technologies.

Flammable Gases

Waste decomposition produces methane and a small amount of hydrogen.

Some water purification chemicals are potentially flammable and explosive under certain situations.

Chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide are two good examples.

Electrical enclosures must be flameproof and equipped with enclosure coolers designed for use in hazardous areas if they are positioned in any area where explosive concentrations of flammable gases may develop, even under abnormal conditions.

Rodents

Rodents are attracted by the presence of decomposing matter, sludge and water.

They also seek out quiet warm places for dens, so any electrical enclosures located in places where rodents are likely to be present must be designed to be inaccessible.

All cables entering these enclosures should be well protected and in conduits.

Enclosures in wastewater treatment plants should be designed with these five distinct concerns in mind:

The material is corrosion-resistant.

Protected against liquids and vapors

Capable of withstanding splashes and water jets

Rodents cannot get through it.

Some areas are flameproof.

Choosing the Best Enclosure Cooler

Explosions

One of the risks is preventing a facility from falling a victim to a type of blast or explosion.

To avoid the rising potential for explosions and blasts, and putting extra strain on these units, plant managers and staff must be aware of safety standards.

Fire Safety Systems

Combustible gas detection systems can alert personnel to a leak before it ignites and causes a blast or explosion of any size.

When these are used in wastewater treatment plants, they can measure methane to determine if a combustible level has been reached.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors employ video image detection and ionization to detect particles created by combustion.

These should be placed in regions where airflow is expected to come from sources that could cause a fire.

In wastewater treatment plant sludge processing regions, incinerator buildings and flammable vapors.

Scum and sludge procedures emit lethal fumes, while raw sewerage lift stations and incinerator processes emit toxic gases.

Cuts and falls

The vats at your plant do not look or smell like a swimming pool. You do not want anyone, including yourself, to fall in.

Unluckily, this is always a possibility. The first step toward safety is to install non-slip surfaces around all vats and on all catwalks.

If necessary, apply more traction tape.

All staff should wear slip-resistant shoes.

Have emergency equipment on hand in case someone falls into a vat.

Rescue hooks and floating gear should be easily accessible

Unseen hazards

Staff must be educated on how to avoid bacterial and biological infections, as well as additional personal hygiene needs.

Hand washing using antibacterial soap regularly is an excellent place to start.

Any open wounds or skin abrasions should be treated with appropriate first-aid supplies.

It is strongly advised to provide a spot for employees to change after their shift. Work attire should never be worn at home.

Laboratory safety

The laboratory, although one of the most strictly controlled areas of a wastewater treatment plant, can be a disaster waiting to happen. Still, the safety message can’t be overemphasized.

Here are their “Top 15 Lab Safety Concerns”:

The absence of fume hoods: Fume hoods should not be used for solids ovens or other equipment.

Excessive use of concentrated acids.

The use of mercury thermometers in the laboratory, particularly in TSS (Total Suspended Solids) ovens.

ovens and furnaces lined with brittle flaking asbestos

Failure to wear protective glasses.

Pipettes and phosphorus glassware in unvented glassware in acid baths with HCl unvented

dilute acids in the lab from concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and HCl

Not having MSDSs on-site and not comprehending the risks associated with certain chemicals.

Storing acid and bases in the same container

Storing reagents (acids, bases, etc.) above eye level, raises the risk of harmful spills to the face

Labs may explore adopting mechanical pipettes and disposable tips to reduce the number of volumetric pipettes required.

However, unfortunately, mouth pipetting is also an issue.

Dealing with Tour Groups

The wastewater treatment plant isn’t a nice park, but for some reason, everyone wants to go on a tour.

This frequently involves visits from agencies who are unfamiliar with safety, as well as a group of fourth graders on a science field trip.

You must assign one or more knowledgeable workers to tour visitors through your facility.

This should involve designating a responsible party to be present when outside contractors do maintenance or repairs.

Keep all visitors away from open pits and danger zones.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) do not mandate worker vaccinations, your staff should check with their doctors for suggestions.

The CDC has a wealth of extra health and safety information that can help your employees maintain a healthy working environment.